Elliot Anderson was preparing for England's final World Cup group game against Panama when news broke that Manchester City had agreed a club-record £116m fee to sign him from Nottingham Forest. The 23-year-old midfielder, who has started both of England's opening World Cup matches against Croatia and Ghana, is expected to have a medical in the US within the next 24 hours.
Forest's owner Evangelos Marinakis had insisted any deal must eclipse the £125m Liverpool paid for Alexander Isak last summer. City sources say the fee is £116m with no bonuses attached, though other sources claim the deal could reach £130m – which would be a British record. City had two previous bids rejected before a third was accepted.
“Manchester City agree £116m club-record fee for Nottingham Forest and England midfielder Elliot Anderson.”
Anderson joined Forest from Newcastle for £35m in 2024, a sale Eddie Howe called "the most reluctant in my career." The Newcastle manager said: "We knew that would be a very, very painful transfer, one that we had to do. We had no choice, but it was probably the most reluctant transfer I'll ever do, because we knew the quality of the player."
In two seasons at the City Ground, Anderson made 88 appearances, scoring four goals, and helped Forest finish seventh in the Premier League and reach the Europa League semi-finals. Last season he had the most touches in the Premier League (3,300), won possession the most times (306), and won the most duels (297).
Anderson has become a regular for England under Thomas Tuchel since making his debut last September, earning 11 caps. Tuchel calls him "the full package." Forest are now expected to sign two midfielders, with Tottenham's Lucas Bergvall a target in a potential £45m move, along with Inter Milan's Davide Frattesi.
Personal terms are not expected to be an issue. Anderson told BBC Sport this week: "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."