Elliot Anderson’s record £116m move to Manchester City will have to wait until after England’s next World Cup match after Thomas Tuchel made clear he does not want distractions on match day.
Tuchel is likely to allow Anderson to undergo a medical while the midfielder is at the World Cup, but the England head coach has laid down the law: no transfer business on the day before a game or on match day itself. England face Panama in their final Group match on Saturday.
“Elliot Anderson's £116m Man City move is on hold until after England's World Cup match, as Tuchel demands no distractions on match day.”
Anderson, 23, has agreed a five-year deal with a one-year extension at City, breaking the British transfer record and City’s own record fee. He was a target for both Manchester clubs but made clear his preferred destination was the blue side.
Tuchel admitted on the eve of the tournament that several players would be discussing their futures and he would not stand in their way – as long as it did not occur on match day. “There has to be common sense,” Tuchel said. “I would not like it on a -1 and a match day. That's the policy. Everything else, if it is quietly done, privately done, done efficiently, we are always happy to help to have clarity around the player.”
The FA’s medical staff could help with the medical, Tuchel added. Anderson told Tuchel the transfer talk would not be a distraction, which reassured the head coach.
The midfielder has become an integral figure in Tuchel’s World Cup plans, with the German calling him “the full package”. Anderson’s journey from the playing fields of Tyneside to the World Cup stage continues at Etihad Stadium after transfer talks were finally concluded between Nottingham Forest and City.
He is the one who painfully got away from Newcastle United, who sold him to Forest for £30m in July 2024 amid fears of breaking profit and sustainability rules. Eddie Howe called it “the most reluctant in my career”. Now City are paying £116m to take him to Manchester.
Anderson’s England teammate Jarell Quansah said the 23-year-old will not be distracted. “I see a player that’s fully focused on what he wants, and I think at the moment what he wants is to win a World Cup,” Quansah said. “He’s a proper focused young lad and he’ll go right to the top I think.”
Anderson may complete the medical before England’s knock-out fixtures. First comes Panama on Saturday – and Tuchel has made clear there will be no talk of transfers until the final whistle.