MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Wednesday, March 4, 2026: Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson during the FA Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Nottingham Forest FC at the City of Manchester Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Wednesday, March 4, 2026: Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson during the FA Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Nottingham Forest FC at the City of Manchester Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Elliot Anderson is set to join Man City after a deal was agreed with Nottingham Forest this week, with the Manchester club insisting it is not a British record.
Anderson is undergoing a medical in New York on Friday having finalised a five-year contract with Man City worth up to £300,000 a week.
The England midfielder is widely considered one of the best on the market this summer and many Liverpool fans would have hoped for efforts to bring him to Anfield.
But instead the 23-year-old will play for the Reds’ modern rivals, with The Athletic‘s David Ornstein among those to report on the imminent transfer.
Interestingly, Man City and Forest appear at odds when it comes to the reported fee – with the buying club insistent it will not break the British record.
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BBC Sport relay their stance that the deal is worth £116 million, though other sources – almost certainly from the County Ground – state the fee is £130 million.
A £130 million package would exceed the £125 million British record deal that saw Alexander Isak leave Newcastle for Liverpool last summer.
But for whatever reason, Man City are adamant the transfer is only worth the same as that of Florian Wirtz‘s move from Bayer Leverkusen to Anfield a year ago.
Either way, it officially represents a new record for Man City, whose previous biggest signing was Jack Grealish, who joined from Aston Villa for £100 million in 2021.
Elliot Anderson, Nottingham Forest at the City Ground (Martin Rickett/PA)
Elliot Anderson, Nottingham Forest at the City Ground (Martin Rickett/PA)
Ornstein writes that the £116 million is “a fixed figure with no add-ons,” which may suggest that those sources from the Etihad are simply unwilling to brief on additional clauses.
Anderson’s move to Manchester is expected to trigger two new midfield signings for Forest, who are interested in Tottenham‘s Lucas Bergvall and Inter Milan’s Davide Frattesi.
Their pursuit of Frattesi could be of interest to Liverpool given Inter’s own attempts to sign Curtis Jones this summer.
Why Anderson transfer could trigger Jones movement
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, May 24, 2026: Liverpool's Curtis Jones during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Brentford FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, May 24, 2026: Liverpool's Curtis Jones during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Brentford FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Liverpool have knocked back a derisory second bid from the San Siro worth £21.7 million, as they maintain their asking price for the Scouser – who enters the final year of his contract next month – stands at £35 million.
At this stage, Jones is on course to stay for the upcoming season under Andoni Iraola, though there is no indication he would sign a new deal.
However, if Inter were to sell Frattesi to Forest, it could free up more funds to finance Jones’ switch to Italy – one he has explored in conversations with Federico Chiesa.
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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Monday, August 4, 2025: Liverpool's Harvey Elliott blows a kiss to the supporters as he celebrates after scoring the fourth goal during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Athletic Bilbao at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Philadelphia, United States. 14th June, 2026. Yan Diomande of Cote d’Ivoire during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group E match between Ecuador and Ivory Coast at Philadelphia Stadium on June 14th, 2026. (Photo by Riquelve Nata/Sports Press Photo) Credit: SPP Sp
Philadelphia, United States. 14th June, 2026. Yan Diomande of Cote d’Ivoire during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group E match between Ecuador and Ivory Coast at Philadelphia Stadium on June 14th, 2026. (Photo by Riquelve Nata/Sports Press Photo) Credit: SPP Sp