Elliot Anderson is set to become the most expensive British player in history, with Manchester City agreeing a £116m deal for the England midfielder — a figure that could rise to £130m, eclipsing the £125m Liverpool paid for Alexander Isak. The 23-year-old is preparing to put the finishing touches on a move that has been months in the making, after Nottingham Forest rejected two earlier bids before finally accepting a third offer that would smash City's club record fee and potentially set a new British record.
The basics of the deal are straightforward: Manchester City have agreed a £116m fee with Nottingham Forest for Anderson, with no bonuses attached. Some sources suggest the package could reach £130m, which would be a British record. Personal terms are not expected to be a problem, and Anderson is scheduled for a medical before completing his move to the Etihad. The midfielder is currently focused on England's World Cup campaign, with a Group L match against Panama coming up, and has told BBC Sport he is "blocking it all out" to concentrate on performing for his country.
“Elliot Anderson's record £116m transfer to Manchester City explained.”
Anderson's journey to this point has been remarkable. He joined his boyhood club Newcastle at age eight and made his first-team debut in 2021, going on to make 55 appearances. However, Newcastle were forced to sell him to Forest in 2024 for £35m because they feared breaching profit and sustainability rules (PSR) and incurring a points deduction. Manager Eddie Howe called it "the most reluctant sale in my career". At Forest, Anderson flourished: he played 88 games, scoring four goals, and helped the club finish seventh in the Premier League in 2024-25, then 16th last season while also reaching the Europa League semi-finals. His influence was immense — in the 2025-26 season he had the most touches in the Premier League (3,300), won possession the most times (306), won the most duels (297) and drew the most fouls (80). Before his breakthrough at Forest, a loan spell at Bristol Rovers in League Two helped them win promotion to League One; teammates there recall fighting to be on his side in training five-a-sides because they knew they would win.
For UK readers, this transfer matters because it reflects the ever-increasing financial stakes in Premier League football. Anderson's original sale from Newcastle was forced by PSR rules, which are designed to prevent clubs from spending beyond their means — yet his subsequent success has enabled Forest to command a record fee. The deal also signals a new era at Manchester City, with Pep Guardiola's reign receding and Enzo Maresca set to take over. City needed midfield reinforcements: Rodri's future is uncertain, Nico González has never convinced, and Mateo Kovacic has been injured frequently. Anderson brings aggression, technical quality, and remarkable availability — this season he started all but one of Forest's league games, clocking up 3,334 minutes out of a possible 3,420.
Q: How much is Elliot Anderson's transfer fee? Manchester City have agreed a club record £116m for Anderson, with no bonuses. Some sources say the deal could reach £130m, which would be a British record, surpassing the £125m Liverpool paid for Alexander Isak.
Q: Why did Newcastle sell Anderson for only £35m in 2024? Newcastle were forced to sell because they were at risk of breaching profit and sustainability rules (PSR) and facing a points deduction. Eddie Howe described it as the most reluctant sale of his career, but the club had little choice to avoid financial penalties.
Q: What happens next for Nottingham Forest after selling Anderson? Forest are expected to sign two midfielders with the funds, targeting Lucas Bergvall of Tottenham and Davide Frattesi of Inter Milan. They are also tracking Ivory Coast World Cup star Christ Inao Oulai, valued at up to £34.5m, along with Sunderland and Brentford.
What happens next is that Anderson will complete his medical at Manchester City and officially join the club after the World Cup. He will then link up with new manager Enzo Maresca as the club prepares for four competitions next season. Meanwhile, Forest will look to reinvest the record fee into their squad, with the summer transfer window still open.