Elliot Anderson is preparing for England's final World Cup group game against Panama on Saturday, but behind the scenes his £116m move to Manchester City has been agreed. The 23-year-old midfielder, who has started both of England's opening matches in the tournament, told BBC Sport this week he was pushing his club future aside. "It's pretty easy really, I'm just focusing on the present, I'm blocking it all out," he said. "I've got a plan and it's to perform for England."
City have finally reached an agreement with Nottingham Forest after having two previous bids rejected. Forest's owner, Evangelos Marinakis, had insisted any deal must eclipse the £125m Liverpool paid for Alexander Isak last summer. City sources insist the fee is £116m with no bonuses, making it a club record, while other sources claim the deal could rise to £130m, which would be a British record. Anderson is expected to have a medical in the US, where he is on international duty, within 24 hours. Personal terms are not expected to be an issue.
“Elliot Anderson agrees £116m Manchester City move while focusing on England's World Cup campaign.”
The midfielder's journey to this point has been remarkable. He joined his boyhood club Newcastle at age eight, made his first-team debut in 2021, and was sold to Forest for £35m in 2024 – a deal Newcastle felt forced into to avoid breaching profit and sustainability rules. Eddie Howe called it "the most reluctant transfer I'll ever do". Anderson immediately became a regular at Forest, helping them finish seventh in the Premier League and reach the Europa League semi-finals. Last season he led the league in touches (3,300), possession won (306) and duels won (297).
His international switch from Scotland to England came in 2024, and he has since earned 11 caps, becoming indispensable to Thomas Tuchel, who calls him "the full package". Anderson's former teacher Jonathan Roys recalled: "He'd get stuck right in." Now he is on the verge of becoming the most expensive British player in history. Forest are already eyeing Tottenham's Lucas Bergvall as a potential replacement, with talks held over a £45m move. Newcastle, meanwhile, will not benefit from this transfer, as the earlier deal with Forest included Odysseas Vlachodimos moving the other way.
Anderson scored against his former club Newcastle in his final Forest match last month. Now he prepares to face Panama, with a record-breaking move waiting once England's World Cup campaign ends.