Glasner admits Anderson move was sealed before his arrival
Oliver Glasner has finally opened up on the chain of events that led Elliot Anderson to swap the City Ground for the Etihad, and his admission is as candid as it gets.
The Nottingham Forest boss confirmed that Anderson’s departure was effectively a done deal before Glasner even took charge, revealing that there was never any intention to persuade the midfielder to stay.
“No, no, it was decided that he will leave, and I think that’s what we have to accept, and we are not at the end of the food chain in football.”
Anderson’s move to Manchester City was confirmed on the back of England’s third-place finish at the 2026 World Cup, with the 23-year-old putting pen to paper on a five-year contract. City reportedly parted with £116m to secure his services, making him the club’s most expensive signing ever and surpassing the £100m shelled out for Jack Grealish back in 2021.
It is a hefty sum for a player who only arrived in the East Midlands two years ago, following a lengthy spell at Newcastle. Yet despite the brief stay, Anderson made himself a key figure at the City Ground, and his sale has generated unexpected profit for Forest.
Glasner was keen to stress that Forest were not under any financial pressure to sell, insisting the decision was made for reasons beyond money. Still, the windfall will come in handy, with the funds set to be reinvested across several areas of the squad.
For City, Anderson’s arrival points towards a direct replacement for Bernardo Silva, who departed at the end of last season. The England international has yet to link up with his new teammates in pre-season, with World Cup participants not expected back until a few days before the Community Shield.
When he does arrive, the expectation is that he will slot in alongside Rodri, assuming the Spaniard remains at the Etihad for another campaign. The recent friendly against Inter Milan offered a glimpse of a two-man pivot, hinting at how Maresca might deploy his new signing.