Elliott moves to Manchester City in record deal

FRA - Manchester City signed midfielder Elliott Anderson from Nottingham Forest in a record deal estimated by the press at £116 million (€135 million), according to the 10-time English Premier League champions on Thursday.

The 23-year-old player, who signed a contract with his new club until 2031, became the biggest deal in City's history since the signing of winger Jack Grealish from Aston Villa for €117.5 million in 2021.

The deal for the midfielder, who played for the 'Three Lions' at the 2026 World Cup, became the second-largest transfer for an English player, behind his compatriot and teammate Morgan Rogers who moved this week from Aston Villa to Chelsea for £117 million (€137 million).

The record for the biggest deal made by an English club remains held by Liverpool, after spending £125 million (€146 million) to secure the services of Swedish striker Alexander Isak from Newcastle.

The player said in comments carried by the club statement: 'Manchester City is one of the biggest clubs in the world, and the squad they have is amazing and very strong in all positions. Since I learned of their interest in signing me, I was determined to complete this transfer.'

City announced at the end of June the appointment of Italian Enzo Maresca as the team's coach, replacing Spanish Pep Guardiola, after finishing last season as runners-up in the domestic league behind Arsenal. Anderson, a product of Newcastle's academy, moved to Nottingham Forest in 2024 and became a key player, playing 75 matches over two seasons in the English Premier League, and contributed to their qualification for the first time to a European competition in the 2024-2025 season. City's Portuguese sporting director Hugo Viana said: 'His development over the past years has been truly impressive, and shows his desire to become the best possible player.' City's statement noted that Anderson was last season the player with the most touches and the most duels won in the English Premier League. Anderson was first called up to the England national team by German coach Thomas Tuchel in September 2025 during a match against Andorra, and has since played 17 international matches for the 1966 world champions and third-place finishers in the North American World Cup. He also started in all of England's matches during the last World Cup, except for the third-place match which his country won 6-4 against France, coming on as a substitute in the final minutes.