Manchester City Agree £116m Fee to Sign England Midfielder Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest

Elliot Anderson is on the verge of a blockbuster move to Manchester City after the Cityzens struck an agreement with Nottingham Forest worth a club-record £116million.

The 23-year-old England midfielder is expected to undergo a medical before finalising his switch to the Etihad Stadium, with both clubs now working through the final formalities of the deal.

City sources maintain the fee is a straight £116m with no add-ons included, a figure that would set a new record for the club. However, other reports suggest the overall package could reach £130m with bonuses, which would also place it among the most expensive transfers in British football history.

Forest had been determined to drive the price higher and had already turned down two earlier bids from City before the breakthrough third offer landed. Despite that resistance, there has long been an expectation that a deal would eventually be reached once City returned with improved terms. Personal terms are not expected to be an issue.

Forest are already planning for life without Anderson and are looking at reinforcements in midfield, with interest in Lucas Bergvall of Tottenham and Davide Frattesi of Inter Milan. The club are expected to bring in at least two midfielders this summer.

While the transfer edges closer, Anderson remains fully focused on international duty with England. He is preparing for their final Group L match against Panama at the World Cup on Saturday, where he is expected to partner Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo in midfield.

Speaking earlier this week, he made clear he is not allowing speculation over his club future to distract him.

“It’s pretty easy really, I’m just focusing on the present, I’m blocking it all out,” he said.

“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.”

Anderson’s rise has been rapid since joining Forest from Newcastle United in 2024 for £35m, going on to make 88 appearances, score four goals, and become a central figure in their midfield.

His impact helped Forest secure a seventh-place Premier League finish in 2024-25 before a tougher 2025-26 campaign that saw them finish 16th, though they still reached the Europa League semi-finals.

Developed at Newcastle United, Anderson first joined the club at the age of eight and progressed through the academy before making his senior debut in 2021. He went on to make 55 appearances before his sale to Forest, a move heavily influenced by financial pressures linked to profit and sustainability rules.

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe later described the decision to let him go as “the most reluctant in my career”.

Since moving to Forest, Anderson has been an ever-present figure, quickly establishing himself as a Premier League regular and later earning a senior England call-up after initially representing Scotland at youth level before switching allegiance.

His performances have continued to develop through the 2025-26 season, where he recorded the highest number of touches in the Premier League (3,300), the most possessions won (306), the most duels won (297), and also drew more fouls than any other player (80). He also improved his goal return, scoring four times, although his assists dipped slightly from six to four.