City break club record to land Anderson
Manchester City have wrapped up their first major piece of summer business, agreeing a blockbuster deal with Nottingham Forest for Elliot Anderson. The fee, understood to be in the region of £116 million, makes the 23-year-old the most expensive signing in the club's history.
Sporting director Hugo Viana had identified the England international as his number one target for the window, with the midfield in need of urgent attention after Bernardo Silva's departure at the end of last season. Despite persistent links to Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez and Newcastle's Sandro Tonali — the latter still on City's radar — all efforts were focused on the Whitley Bay-born midfielder.
The deal was put together at pace in the final days of June, with City's medical team now set to carry out testing in New York, where Anderson is currently representing England at the World Cup. He has started both of Thomas Tuchel's Group L fixtures against Croatia and Ghana, and will hope to feature against Panama after two comfortable group-stage outings.
Anderson's performance in the 0-0 draw with Ghana at Boston Stadium offered a glimpse of what City are getting. He completed 66 of 74 passes, won three tackles and made five ball recoveries — a display of tactical maturity that bodes well for his integration into Enzo Maresca's system.
The ability to combine relentless work-rate with possession retention makes him a natural fit alongside Rodri, giving Maresca a resilient defensive screen that should allow more attack-minded players greater freedom. His versatility, honed during two seasons at the City Ground, also adds value. Anderson inspired Forest to a historic seventh-place finish in 2024/25 and a Europa League semi-final run last campaign.
Eddie Howe, who saw Anderson leave Newcastle under PSR pressures in 2024, described it at the time as "the most reluctant transfer I'll ever do."
City moved decisively to fend off strong interest from Manchester United, with Anderson having notably registered two assists against the Old Trafford club late last season.
The offices at the City Football Academy have operated with financial conviction in recent days, ensuring Maresca receives a significant welcoming gift ahead of his official start date. With the Pep Guardiola era now concluded, Viana recognised the midfield required immediate rejuvenation to cope with another demanding domestic and continental calendar, particularly given the uncertainty surrounding Rodri and Nico Gonzalez.
Anderson's pending arrival suggests that while the Guardiola dynasty has ended, the club's relentless pursuit of success shows no sign of letting up.