Manchester City have confirmed an agreement with Nottingham Forest for the transfer of Elliot Anderson, a deal reported to be worth £116m that makes the 23-year-old the most expensive British footballer in history.
The club announced on Thursday that Anderson has already completed a medical at England's World Cup training base in Kansas, with the formalities of the move to be finalised once he returns from the tournament. City also wished Anderson and the England squad well for the remainder of their campaign in North America.
A British Record Fee
The reported £116m fee is understood to be a fixed sum with no add-ons, and it rewrites the record books on several fronts. Anderson surpasses Jude Bellingham's £115m move from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid in 2023 as the most expensive British player ever, while also eclipsing Jack Grealish's £100m switch from Aston Villa in 2021 as Manchester City's club record signing. Only Liverpool's outlays on Alexander Isak (£125m) and Florian Wirtz (£116.5m) rank higher among incoming Premier League transfers. You can trace the full history of British football transfer records from Willie Groves in 1893 through to Anderson's landmark move.
| Player | Transfer | Fee | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elliot Anderson | Nottingham Forest to Manchester City | £116m | 2026 |
| Jude Bellingham | Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid | £115m | 2023 |
| Declan Rice | West Ham United to Arsenal | £105m | 2023 |
| Jack Grealish | Aston Villa to Manchester City | £100m | 2021 |
Forest's Remarkable Profit
Anderson only joined Nottingham Forest from Newcastle United in the summer of 2024, in a deal worth around £35m. Two years on, Forest have more than trebled their money on a player who was contracted at the City Ground until 2029. The midfielder established himself as one of the finest central midfielders in Europe last season, combining relentless pressing and ball-winning with a progressive passing game and an eye for goal.
City made Anderson their primary midfield target this summer and saw two earlier bids rejected before agreement was finally reached. The England international was also wanted by Manchester United, but the player himself chose the blue half of Manchester.
Maresca's First Marquee Signing
Anderson becomes the statement addition of the new era under Enzo Maresca, who was appointed as Pep Guardiola's successor on a three-year contract earlier this week. With Bernardo Silva departing and questions over Rodri's long-term future, Anderson's versatility across the No 6, No 8 and No 10 roles gives the incoming manager a midfielder capable of anchoring the side for the next decade.
The deal also lands in the middle of a frantic midfield market this summer, with Tottenham pursuing Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali in a £185m double swoop and Forest now expected to reinvest in two central midfielders of their own.
Anderson at the World Cup
Anderson has started every England match at the tournament so far, beginning with the 4-2 win over Croatia in their Group L opener in Dallas. Thomas Tuchel's side topped the group after a goalless draw with Ghana and a 2-0 victory over Panama, and the midfielder completed his City medical in between fixtures with the blessing of the national team.
England are chasing a first World Cup triumph since 1966, and you can explore England's complete World Cup record alongside full fixtures, squads and statistics in our World Cup 2026 hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are the key questions answered on Elliot Anderson's record-breaking move to Manchester City.
How much is Elliot Anderson's transfer to Manchester City worth?
The fee is reported to be £116m, a fixed sum with no add-ons. It is a club record for Manchester City and makes Anderson the most expensive British player in history.
When will the transfer be completed?
Anderson has passed his medical at England's World Cup base in Kansas. The formalities will be finalised when he returns to England after the tournament.
Which records does the transfer break?
It surpasses Jude Bellingham's £115m move to Real Madrid as the biggest fee ever paid for a British player and beats Jack Grealish's £100m transfer as Manchester City's club record signing.
How much profit have Nottingham Forest made on Anderson?
Forest signed Anderson from Newcastle United for around £35m in 2024, meaning a profit of roughly £81m in two years.
Will Anderson play for England before joining City?
Yes. Anderson remains with the England squad for the rest of their World Cup 2026 campaign and has started every match so far under Thomas Tuchel.