Manchester City have confirmed the signing of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116m. The 23-year-old English midfielder signed a contract running through June 2031. The fee surpassed the £100m City paid for Jack Grealish in 2021, briefly making Anderson the most expensive British player in history before Morgan Rogers’ £117m move from Aston Villa to Chelsea pushed him to second.
According to Sky Sports, the agreement between the two clubs was reached on 2 July 2026, on the eve of England’s Group L game against Panama at the World Cup. Anderson completed his medical in Kansas during the tournament, cleared by the England setup to do so between fixtures. The transfer was formally finalized on 23 July, after Anderson returned from a World Cup campaign that ended with England’s third-place finish.
The deal itself
City director of football Hugo Viana moved quickly to secure Anderson as the first major signing of Enzo Maresca’s tenure. Maresca took charge in June, succeeding Pep Guardiola, who stepped down after a decade at the Etihad. Anderson chose City ahead of Manchester United and other interested clubs, a decision he says was straightforward once he understood what the club wanted from him.
Anderson’s own words left little ambiguity about his priorities. ‘As soon as I knew they wanted me, I was absolutely determined to make this move happen,’ he said. ‘You want to test yourself at the highest level. Being at City means I have that opportunity.’ He added that City’s sustained dominance was a central factor: ‘Over the last 10, 12 years, they’ve dominated, so that’s why I wanted to join.’
Player profile and style
Anderson grew up on Tyneside, came through the Newcastle United academy, and earned the nickname ‘Geordie Maradona’ from supporters there. He spent half a season on loan at Bristol Rovers in 2022 before Newcastle sold him to Nottingham Forest in July 2024 for £35m. His England senior debut came in 2025, with the Guardian reporting a 2-0 victory over Andorra as his first cap. Anderson featured in every game of England’s 2026 World Cup run, which included a 2-1 semi-final loss to Argentina in Atlanta and a 6-4 third-place play-off win over France in Miami.
His final Premier League season at Forest showed why City pursued him so aggressively. He made 37 starts, contributed four goals and four assists, and led the entire league in touches (3,300), duels won (297), and instances of winning possession (306), while also finishing in the top five for tackles and passes. Viana described him as offering ‘energy, outstanding work rate and an exceptional range of passing,’ and said the club believes ‘he can become a complete midfielder.’ Anderson pointed to Kevin De Bruyne as a childhood inspiration, saying: ‘Growing up through the academy at Newcastle, I’ve always wanted to play like him.’
What it means for Nottingham Forest
Losing Anderson is a significant blow to a Forest side that finished seventh in the Premier League last season and qualified for European competition for the first time in 30 years. The club also reached the Europa League semi-finals, a run Anderson was central to. The £116m fee represents a substantial return on the £35m Forest paid Newcastle just two years ago, and the club will need to reinvest heavily to offset the loss of a player who ranked among the top performers in the league across several statistical measures.
Anderson stayed measured about his own trajectory while acknowledging the step up his new club represents. ‘I’m only 23, so I’ve got plenty of time to get to my best levels and I definitely think I’m not there yet,’ he said. He is currently taking a three-week break following the World Cup. The first Manchester derby of the new season is scheduled for 13 September.
FAQ
How much did Manchester City pay for Elliot Anderson?
Manchester City signed Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116m. The fee temporarily set a British transfer record before being surpassed by Morgan Rogers’ £117m move from Aston Villa to Chelsea.
How long is Elliot Anderson’s contract at Manchester City?
Anderson signed a five-year contract at Manchester City, running through June 2031.
How old is Elliot Anderson and what position does he play?
Elliot Anderson is 23 years old and plays as a midfielder. He is Tyneside-born and came through the Newcastle United academy before spells at Bristol Rovers on loan, Newcastle, Nottingham Forest, and now Manchester City.