Elliot Anderson says he was "determined to make this move happen" after Manchester City confirmed his arrival on a five-year deal. The 23-year-old midfielder, who joins from Nottingham Forest, has signed a contract which runs until June 2031.
First agreed when he was playing for England at the World Cup, the deal was poised to make Anderson the most expensive player in British history but has since been eclipsed by Morgan Rogers' £117m transfer from Aston Villa to Chelsea.
Anderson says there was no hesitation when he was presented with the opportunity to join "one of the biggest clubs in the world".
"As soon as I knew [City] wanted me, I was absolutely determined to make this move happen," Anderson said.
"You want to test yourself at the highest level. Being at City means I have that opportunity.
"As soon as I arrive in Manchester after a break, I will be doing everything I can to establish myself in the City team."
Why are Man City breaking the bank for Anderson?
Manchester City agreed a club record fee with Forest for Anderson, exceeding the £100m spent on Jack Grealish in 2021, and fended off competition from Manchester United. Talks around Anderson's future were ongoing during the World Cup and an agreement was reached between Forest and City on the eve of England's Group L game against Panama.
Anderson was a central figure in England's World Cup campaign after making his senior debut in August 2025. He joined Forest from Newcastle United in 2024 for £35m, then became an integral player as the club finished seventh in the Premier League and qualified for Europe for the first time in 30 years.
Last season, Anderson helped Forest to the Europa League semi-finals and was the Premier League leader for touches and duels won. He also became a key feature of Thomas Tuchel's England side, featuring in every game at the World Cup.
He will join a team led by former Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca, who arrived in June after Pep Guardiola stepped down as City manager after 10 years in charge.
City director of football Hugo Viana described Anderson as "one of the outstanding young midfield talents in the world".
"He offers energy, outstanding work rate and an exceptional range of passing. His improvement in recent years has been really impressive and underlines his desire to be the best player he can be," Viana said.
"At just 23, there is plenty of opportunity for development over the coming years and we feel he can become a complete midfielder."
