Manchester City's pursuit of Elliot Anderson has already seen them offer £122m – a sum that would break the British transfer record – only for Nottingham Forest to demand even more.
Elliot Anderson is a 23-year-old England midfielder who currently plays for Nottingham Forest. He joined Forest from Newcastle United in 2024 for £35m and was one of their star performers last season, helping them reach the Europa League semi-finals and avoid relegation. City are looking to bolster their midfield after Bernardo Silva left at the end of his contract. They have had two bids rejected by Forest: an initial £80m offer earlier this month, and a second bid worth a guaranteed £106m plus up to £16m in add-ons, totalling £122m. Anderson has made clear his preference is to join City over Manchester United, and personal terms are not an issue.
“The explainer covers Manchester City's attempts to sign Elliot Anderson, the record fee involved, and why it matters.”
Forest's owner, Evangelos Marinakis, is understood to want a British-record fee for Anderson. The current British transfer record is the £125m Liverpool paid Newcastle for Alexander Isak last summer. According to the Daily Mail, Forest are holding firm for a package of up to £130m, comprising £110m upfront and £20m in bonuses. That would eclipse the previous Premier League record of £105m Arsenal paid West Ham for Declan Rice in 2023, and City's own record of £100m for Jack Grealish in 2021. It would also make Anderson the third most expensive player in football history, behind only Neymar and Kylian Mbappé.
For UK readers, this transfer is significant because it could reset the market for English players and demonstrates the immense financial power of Premier League clubs. Anderson is expected to start for England in their opening World Cup match against Croatia on 17 June, meaning his future may be resolved during the tournament. Manchester United, who were also interested in Anderson, are now effectively out of the race after the asking price skyrocketed. They have already signed Ederson from Atalanta for £35m plus add-ons and are targeting other midfielders such as West Ham's Mateus Fernandes and Bournemouth's Alex Scott.
Q: How much are Nottingham Forest asking for Elliot Anderson? Forest are demanding a package of up to £130m, with £110m guaranteed and £20m in bonuses, according to the Daily Mail. This would break the British transfer record of £125m set by Alexander Isak's move to Liverpool.
Q: Why do Manchester City want to sign Elliot Anderson? City need a midfielder after Bernardo Silva left on a free transfer. Anderson, 23, is an England international and was one of Forest's key players last season, scoring six goals in 92 appearances. His preference is to join City over Manchester United, and personal terms are not an issue.
Q: Are Manchester United still in the race for Elliot Anderson? No. United are effectively out of the running after City's second bid and the high asking price. They are now pursuing alternative targets, including West Ham's Mateus Fernandes and Atalanta's Ederson, and have already agreed a £35m deal for the latter.
What happens next: City's director of football, Hugo Viana, may submit a third – possibly final – offer by the end of the week. The World Cup begins on 17 June with England playing Croatia, and Anderson is expected to start for Thomas Tuchel's side. Club-to-club talks can continue during the tournament, but both City and Forest are keen to avoid distracting the player.