Manchester City have agreed a club-record £116m deal with Nottingham Forest for England midfielder Elliot Anderson — a transfer that England manager Thomas Tuchel expects to be finalised before the World Cup round of 32.
The 23-year-old, who scored for Forest in a 2-2 draw at the Etihad in March, is set to undergo a medical in Kansas City, where England’s training base is situated, after sources close to the camp confirmed checks had not yet taken place in New York as originally anticipated. Personal terms are not expected to be an issue, and there was always a degree of confidence the deal would get done once City made a third bid, having rejected two earlier offers from the Premier League champions.
“Elliot Anderson's £116m Manchester City transfer agreed; Tuchel expects it complete before World Cup round of 32.”
City sources insist the fee is £116m with no bonuses attached, making it a club record. Other sources claim the deal is worth up to £130m, which would eclipse the £125m Liverpool paid Newcastle for Alexander Isak last summer and set a new British transfer record.
Tuchel, speaking after England’s 2-0 win over Panama in New Jersey that sealed top spot in Group L, said: “I think there’s a very high chance the ‘thing’ is sorted before the round of 32. It’s very impressive, I have to say, the way he plays and the way he trains, he carries himself. He’s still quite young and quite new to our national team and he just plays like he owns the place.
“He grew into the tournament after a bit of a difficult start against Croatia but he gets better and better. It’s good to have him, he gave green light, medical gave green light and he’s without any injury concern at the moment.”
Anderson, who joined Forest for £35m from boyhood club Newcastle in 2024, has made 88 appearances for the club, scoring four goals. He helped Forest finish seventh in the Premier League in 2024-25 and then 16th last season, when they also reached the Europa League semi-finals. Newcastle manager Eddie Howe called the sale of Anderson “the most reluctant in my career”, forced by fears of breaking profit and sustainability rules and incurring a points deduction.
After being a Scotland youth international, Anderson switched to England’s under-21s in August 2024 and made his senior debut in September 2025. Last season he led the Premier League in touches (3,300), possessions won (306), duels won (297) and fouls drawn (80), while doubling his goal tally to four.
Forest, now flush with cash, are interested in Tottenham’s Lucas Bergvall and Inter Milan’s Davide Frattesi and are expected to sign two midfielders this summer.
Anderson, preparing for England’s final Group L game against Panama on Saturday, told BBC Sport: “It’s pretty easy really, I’m just focusing on the present, I’m blocking it all out. I’ve got a plan and it’s to perform for England. I’m putting myself in the best position to cross the line and do that.”