26th June 2026
June 26 – Manchester City have reached an agreement with Nottingham Forest to sign England midfielder Elliot Anderson in a deal worth a club-record £116 million.
City say the fee is a straight £116 million with no performance-related add-ons, although other sources have valued the package at closer to £130 million. If the latter figure is reached, it would eclipse the £125 million Liverpool paid Newcastle United for Alexander Isak last summer, making Anderson the most expensive player in British football history.
The 23-year-old is expected to undergo a medical before completing his move to the Etihad Stadium after Forest rejected City’s opening two offers.
It is a remarkable rise for a player Forest signed from Newcastle United for £35 million just two years ago. Newcastle’s hand was forced by PSR, prompting manager Eddie Howe to later describe Anderson’s departure as “the most reluctant” sale of his career.
Since arriving at the City Ground, Anderson has developed into one of the Premier League’s most complete midfielders. Last season he topped the league for touches (3,300), possessions won (306), duels won (297) and fouls drawn (80), while also contributing four goals and four assists.
His stock has risen even further this summer. Anderson has measured up comfortably alongside Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice for England at the World Cup. Bellingham and Rice both commanded transfers in the £100 million bracket earlier in their careers.
The begins the start of a significant midfield rebuild at the Etihad. Bernardo Silva is on his way to Real Madrid, while uncertainty continues to surround the futures of Rodri and Tijjani Reijnders. Anderson is expected to become the cornerstone of the next generation.
His arrival could also accelerate Nico O’Reilly’s potential move into central midfield. The academy graduate has impressed at left-back for both club and country but has long been viewed internally as a midfielder, and further departures would create an obvious opening.
Forest are expected to reinvest quickly. The club are interested in Spurs’ Lucas Bergvall and Inter’s Davide Frattesi and are now likely to recruit two midfielders before the transfer window closes.
With the decision on the 115 charges for breaking Premier League financial rules still looming over City, the fee is eye-watering.
The past transfers of Jack Grealish to City, Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez to Chelsea, Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak to Liverpool and Declan Rice to Arsenal are the only times that the £100 million mark has been broken.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at [\[email protected\]](/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#721a1300000b5c17051b1c15321b1c011b1617051d001e16141d1d0610131e1e5c111d1f)