Manchester City have confirmed that they have reached an agreement to sign Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest in a deal that will make him the most expensive British player ever. Anderson enjoyed two notable campaigns at the City Ground after leaving his boyhood club Newcastle United in 2024, helping Nottingham Forest finish seventh in the Premier League in the 2024-25 season. Forest reached the Europa League semi-finals in 2025-26 before being eliminated by winners Aston Villa. Despite fighting against relegation in the championship, finishing in 16th place, Anderson still impressed. He had the most touches (3,300), won possession the most times (306), won the most duels (297) and suffered the most fouls (80) of any player in the Premier League. Anderson made 88 appearances for Forest in total, and his form at club level has helped him become a key player in Thomas Tuchel's England plans. He started all four of the team's World Cup games, with Ezri Konsa (360) and Harry Kane (354) being the only England outfield players to play more minutes at the tournament than Anderson (338).
After confirmation of Bernardo Silva's departure as a free agent, joining Real Madrid, City quickly focused on Anderson. The deal, which will include bonuses, will cost City £116 million, surpassing the £115 million (134.2 million euros) Real Madrid paid Borussia Dortmund for Jude Bellingham in 2023, which was the most expensive transfer ever involving a British player.
Nottingham Forest have confirmed that an agreement has been reached with Manchester City for the transfer of Elliot Anderson. The necessary formalities will be completed in due course, allowing Elliot's full focus to remain on representing England at the World Cup.
The club... In a statement released on Thursday, City said: "Anderson is currently competing in the World Cup with England and has already completed his medical in Kansas. Transfer formalities will be finalized upon his return to England. In the meantime, everyone at Manchester City wishes Elliot and the England team the best of luck in their World Cup campaign and we look forward to welcoming him to Manchester in due course."
Anderson's transfer is the third most expensive entry-level deal in Premier League history, behind only Liverpool's deals for Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz last year.