City agree new British record for Anderson

It looks as though we are about to witness a new British transfer record—and the third-biggest transfer in football history. According to The Athletic, Elliot Anderson is on the verge of joining Manchester City, with the club's latest offer finally satisfying Nottingham Forest. City have been tracking the England international since December, closely monitoring his development for more than six months. Anderson himself reportedly made it clear early on that he was eager to move to the Etihad Stadium, allowing negotiations to progress quickly once formal talks began.

Forest, however, stood firm throughout the process—and their patience paid off. They rejected the first two offers, despite both exceeding 100 million euros. In the end, they secured almost all they wanted:135 million euros in cash, with no bonuses. According to The Athletic, the player has been granted permission by his club to undergo a medical in the United States, where he is currently with the England squad at the World Cup. The medical is expected to take place on Friday, after which the deal will depend only on the completion of personal terms.

Forest reject second bid for Anderson

Given that Anderson has already expressed his desire to join City, an agreement on salary and contract length is not expected to present any difficulties. The move nearly eclipsed the 145 million that Liverpool FC paid Newcastle United for Alexander Isak last August but surpassed the fee FC Barcelona paid for Philippe Coutinho in 2017. Only four transfers would remain more expensive: Neymar's 222 million move to Paris Saint-Germain, Kylian Mbappe's 180 million transfer, Dembele's arrival to Barcelona and Isak's move to Liverpool.

Life after Rodri and Bernardo: City step up interest in Tonali

British media view Anderson primarily as the long-term replacement for Bernardo Silva, although City's broader priority is rebuilding their midfield. The futures of Rodri, Nico Gonzalez, and Tijjani Reijnders remain uncertain, making reinforcement in that area increasingly important. Last season, Anderson made 50 appearances for Nottingham Forest, scoring four goals and providing five assists. Yet, according to analysts in England, it is his all-around influence rather than his direct goal contributions that convinced City to invest so heavily. Anderson accounted for 14% of Forest's total touches in the Premier League, the highest share of any player in the division. Only three midfielders averaged more than his 8.5 passes into the final third per match. He is regarded as highly press-resistant, consistently selects progressive passes, poses a constant attacking threat, and, without possession, combines relentless work rate with the athleticism to recover quickly and contribute defensively.