Midfielder Elliot Anderson confirmed that his football career, which started at the famous Wallsend Boys Club in Tyneside and led to his record-breaking transfer to Manchester City as the most expensive English player, has developed faster than he expected, although he stressed that his best form is yet to come.

Anderson's transfer is part of Manchester City's strategy to strengthen their midfield with high-potential young players.

Manchester City announced on Thursday the official signing of English midfielder Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest on a five-year contract worth £116 million ($154.58 million), making him the most expensive English player in a transfer deal, before Chelsea later surpassed it with a larger deal to sign Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa.

Anderson, 23, will join Manchester City after a three-week break following the World Cup, during which he started seven out of the eight matches played by the England national team.

In a statement to the club, Anderson, who secured the most expensive signing in City's history, said: "I think everything happened quickly, but I always believed in my ability to reach this stage, and this is where I wanted to be."

He added: "Now that I am here, I will continue to work as hard as possible and try to help this club move forward. I am still 23 years old, and I have plenty of time to reach my best level, and I trust that I haven't reached it yet, and I still have a lot to offer."

Anderson followed in the footsteps of several prominent English stars who played for Wallsend Boys Club, including former striker Alan Shearer and midfielder Peter Beardsley.

Anderson joined the Newcastle United academy, spent a loan spell with Bristol Rovers before establishing himself in the first team. He then moved to Nottingham Forest for £35 million in 2024, making 92 appearances for them in all competitions, scoring six goals and providing 11 assists.

Last season, Anderson topped the list of English players with the most ball progressions in the Premier League, and also led in the number of accurate passes in the attacking third.

Anderson said he will add a variety of capabilities to Manchester City, where he joins a midfield featuring prominent names such as Spain's World Cup-winning captain Rodri, Nico González, Mateo Kovačić, Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki, and Phil Foden.

He said: "I think I bring almost everything. I have quality, physical strength, and energy. Hopefully, I can entertain the fans and get them excited, and add more excitement to the team. I like playing at a high tempo, putting in a lot of effort all over the pitch, and giving the fans what they deserve."

Anderson's signing coincides with the beginning of a new phase at Manchester City following the departure of Pep Guardiola, who concluded a 10-year trophy-laden career.

Enzo Maresca, who took over as manager succeeding Guardiola, faces a difficult task, but Anderson expressed his admiration for the Italian coach's style, having previously managed Leicester City and Chelsea.

He said: "I am very much looking forward to it. I have watched his teams over the past two years, and I have spoken to some of the Chelsea players, and they all hold him in very high regard. So I am extremely excited to start working with him."

Although England's World Cup dream ended with a semi-final defeat to Argentina, Anderson said he was satisfied with his performance in the tournament. He said: "It was a disappointment, but on a personal level, I enjoyed it very much. I think the team had the support of the whole country, and we performed very well, but we didn't achieve what we aspired to."

He added: "On a personal level, I enjoyed the experience, and I think I performed well."

Regarding his reason for choosing to join Manchester City, he said: "It's a team accustomed to winning and never stops striving for it, and that's the kind of team I want to be a part of, a team that wins championships and titles. Over the past 10 or 12 years, they have established dominance."

The record fee paid by City reflects the significant increase in the prices of English players in recent years. Anderson is expected to provide additional tactical options for manager Pep Guardiola, especially given the competitiveness of the team's midfield. Despite his young age, Anderson has Premier League experience after making 92 appearances for Nottingham Forest. The biggest challenge ahead of him remains proving his worth for the hefty price tag among the world-class stars at City.