Manchester City agree deal for Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson
Manchester City have reached an agreement with Nottingham Forest for the transfer of midfielder Elliot Anderson. The deal is understood to be a club record fee for Manchester City, with various reports on the exact amount. Anderson is expected to undergo a medical examination before finalising his move to the Etihad Stadium.
Sources from Manchester City indicate the fee for Anderson is £116m, without any additional bonuses. However, other reports suggest the deal could be valued at up to £130m, which would surpass the £125m paid for Alexander Isak by Liverpool last summer, making it a British record transfer fee. Nottingham Forest had previously rejected two offers from City, holding out for a higher valuation.
Anderson’s current commitments and career trajectory
Anderson is presently with the England squad in the USA, participating in the World Cup. He has started in both of England’s group stage matches so far. The timing of his medical is currently under discussion, as England is scheduled to play Panama in their final Group L game on Saturday. Anderson has stated his focus remains on his performance for England during the tournament, putting his club future aside.
The midfielder joined Nottingham Forest from Newcastle in 2024 for £35m. His move to Forest was reportedly influenced by Newcastle’s concerns about financial fair play regulations. During his time at Forest, Anderson made 88 appearances and scored four goals. He played a role in Forest finishing seventh in the Premier League in 2024-25 and reaching the Europa League semi-finals in the subsequent season.
Anderson’s influence at Forest grew significantly during the 2025-26 season. He led the Premier League in several key metrics, including touches (3,300), possessions won (306), duels won (297), and fouls drawn (80). His goal tally for the season also doubled from two to four, though his Premier League assists saw a slight decrease from six to four.
Impact on Nottingham Forest and future plans
With Anderson’s potential departure, Nottingham Forest are looking to strengthen their midfield. The club is reportedly interested in signing two central midfielders this summer. Among their targets are Tottenham Hotspur’s Lucas Bergvall and Davide Frattesi from Inter Milan. Forest also maintains a long-standing interest in Celtic’s Arne Engels, whom they attempted to sign in January.
Anderson, who is 23, is currently under contract with Nottingham Forest until 2029. He has been a primary midfield target for Manchester City this summer, with City admiring his development since his move from Newcastle. England manager Thomas Tuchel described Anderson as the “full package” during the World Cup preparation camp, expressing confidence that transfer speculation would not affect his performance.
Anderson’s journey began at his boyhood club Newcastle, where he joined at the age of eight and made his first-team debut in 2021. He made 55 appearances for Newcastle before his transfer to Forest. After representing Scotland at youth level, he switched to England’s under-21 squad in August 2024 and made his senior international debut in September 2025.
The fee for Anderson is understood to be a club record for Manchester City, exceeding the £100m paid for Jack Grealish.
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Source: bbc.co.uk