Elliot Anderson is on the verge of becoming Manchester City’s record signing after the club agreed a £116m deal with Nottingham Forest, while Declan Rice has allayed injury fears that surrounded his absence from England’s final World Cup group match.
Anderson, who Thomas Tuchel calls “the full package”, has emerged as a central figure in the England manager’s World Cup plans. The 23-year-old’s rise from the playing fields of Tyneside to a potential club-record transfer marks a remarkable journey. He was the schoolboy so good his teachers discussed placing a bet on him playing for England — a bet never placed, but now Tuchel is backing him to be a winner at the World Cup.
“Elliot Anderson set for £116m Manchester City move; Declan Rice eases injury fears after missing England's World Cup group match.”
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe described Anderson’s £30m sale to Nottingham Forest in July 2024 as “the most reluctant in my career”, a deal forced by fears of breaking profit and sustainability rules. The sense of loss has only grown as Anderson became integral to Tuchel’s side. He will now assume the same role at City once formalities are completed.
Anderson’s first steps in football came playing with his elder brothers Louie and Wil. Jonathan Roys, his former English and PE teacher at Valley Gardens Middle School, recalled: “His brothers had been through the school and I played against his dad. … He’d get stuck right in.” Anderson captained Valley Gardens to win the English leg of the Danone Nations Cup in 2014, scoring a hat-trick in the 3-0 final.
He was also called up by Scotland for Euro 2024 qualifiers, having represented the Scots at under-21 level, but pulled out through injury before pledging allegiance to England.
Meanwhile, Rice — an Arsenal midfielder who was forced to sit out England’s final group match — has issued a World Cup update that allays injury fears for Tuchel. No further details were provided in the source material.