Elliot Anderson has called Manchester City the “kings of Manchester” after completing his £116m transfer from Nottingham Forest, a deal that briefly set a British transfer record before Morgan Rogers’ £117m move to Chelsea.
The 23-year-old midfielder, who signed a five-year contract running until June 2031, said there was no hesitation when he learned of City’s interest. “As soon as I knew they wanted me, I was absolutely determined to make this move happen,” Anderson told the club’s website. “You want to test yourself at the highest level. Being at City means I have that opportunity.”
“Elliot Anderson completes £116m move to Manchester City, calling the club 'kings of Manchester'.”
Anderson’s rise has been swift. He joined Forest from Newcastle for £35m in July 2024 and became an integral player as the club finished seventh in the Premier League, qualifying for Europe for the first time in 30 years. Last season he helped Forest reach the Europa League semi-finals and led the Premier League in touches and duels won. His performances earned him an England debut under Thomas Tuchel in August 2025, and he played every game at the recent World Cup, where England finished third.
Talks over his future were ongoing during the World Cup, with an agreement reached between Forest and City on the eve of England’s group match against Panama. City fended off competition from Manchester United to secure Anderson for a club record fee, surpassing the £100m paid for Jack Grealish in 2021.
Anderson is now taking a three-week break after the World Cup but is already looking ahead to the new season. He singled out the first Manchester derby on 13 September as a fixture he relishes, aware of the reception he may face at Old Trafford after his comments. “It’s one of the biggest derbies in the world and for as long as I’ve known Manchester, City have been the kings of Manchester,” he said. “It’ll be a great fixture and I can’t wait to be involved.”
He will play under new head coach Enzo Maresca, who replaced Pep Guardiola after the Catalan’s 10-year reign. Anderson said he has watched Maresca’s teams and spoken to former Chelsea players who “rate him very highly”.
City director of football Hugo Viana described Anderson as “one of the outstanding young midfield talents in the world”, adding: “He offers energy, outstanding work rate and an exceptional range of passing. His improvement in recent years has been really impressive and underlines his desire to be the best player he can be. At just 23, there is plenty of opportunity for development over the coming years and we feel he can become a complete midfielder.”
Anderson, who began his career at Newcastle, believes his best is yet to come. “I’m only 23, so I’ve got plenty of time to get to my best levels and I definitely think I’m not there yet,” he said. “Over the last 10, 12 years, they’ve dominated, so that’s why I wanted to join. Now that I’m here, I’ll keep pushing and try to take this club forward.”