Manchester City have reached an agreement with Nottingham Forest to sign England midfielder Elliot Anderson in a deal worth up to £130 million, setting a new British transfer record.
The 23-year-old is expected to undergo a medical before completing his move to the Etihad Stadium, with personal terms already understood to be agreed. City’s latest offer finally convinced Forest to sell after the Midlands club rejected two previous bids during lengthy negotiations.
The transfer will surpass the previous British record of £125 million, which Liverpool paid Newcastle United for striker Alexander Isak last summer.
City identified Anderson as one of their priority midfield targets early in the transfer window and remained determined to secure his signature despite Forest’s firm stance. The Premier League champions improved their offer after earlier proposals, including a package worth £121 million, were turned down.
Anderson is currently with England at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and is preparing for Saturday’s Group L clash against Panama. Earlier this week, he insisted his focus remained solely on international duty despite growing speculation surrounding his future.
The midfielder said he had deliberately blocked out the transfer talk to concentrate on helping England progress in the tournament.
Since joining Nottingham Forest from Newcastle United in 2024 for £35 million, Anderson has enjoyed a remarkable rise. He has made 88 appearances for the club, scoring four goals while developing into one of the Premier League’s most highly rated midfielders. His performances helped Forest secure a seventh-place finish in the 2024-25 season before they reached the Europa League semi-finals the following campaign.
Manchester City’s willingness to invest a record-breaking fee underlines how highly the club rates Anderson. His energy, ball-winning ability and versatility are viewed as ideal qualities for the next phase of City’s midfield rebuild, particularly following changes within the squad over the past year.
Forest are already planning for life without one of their star players. Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Lucas Bergvall and Inter Milan’s Davide Frattesi are among the names being considered as potential replacements, with the club expected to recruit at least two new midfielders before the transfer window closes.
The agreement represents one of the biggest deals in Premier League history and caps a remarkable rise for Anderson, who has gone from a £35 million signing just two years ago to becoming Britain’s most expensive footballer.
With only the medical and final paperwork remaining, Manchester City are on the verge of completing one of the statement transfers of the summer.
