Man City sign Anderson for record £116m from Forest
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- Elliot Anderson's £116m transfer from Nottingham Forest to Manchester City was announced Thursday, eclipsing Jude Bellingham's £115m move to Real Madrid in summer 2023 to become the most expensive British player ever.
- Only Liverpool's £125m signing of Alexander Isak and £116.5m deal for Florian Wirtz rank higher among incoming Premier League transfers on record.
- Anderson completed his City medical in Kansas on Sunday after England cleared him mid-World Cup, where he has started all four matches for the Three Lions.
- At Forest last season, the midfielder played every Premier League game (37 starts, 4 goals, 4 assists) and ranked top five in the league for tackles and passes.
- The deal is Enzo Maresca's first signing since being confirmed this week as Pep Guardiola's permanent replacement at the Etihad.
- City's move comes with Bernardo Silva exiting this summer and Rodri entering the final year of his contract unresolved, with Sky Sports News' Ben Ransom noting Anderson can slot in as a single pivot or partner Declan Rice.
- Sky Sports' Laura Hunter argues Anderson's off-ball work ranks 'better than Declan Rice' and 'more efficient than present-day Rodri,' framing him as a near-ideal Maresca-system fit.
Why it matters: City are paying a British-record £116m for a 23-year-old midfielder whose Premier League experience is limited to one full Forest campaign, betting on Maresca's first signing to fill the void left by Bernardo Silva's exit and Rodri's uncertain future (one year left, no extension signed). At that fee, Anderson becomes the most expensive British player ever — a price tag that will be measured against Rice and Rodri from day one.
