Elliot Anderson crowns Manchester City 'kings of Manchester' after £116m Forest transfer

Elliot Anderson has described Manchester City as the "kings of Manchester" after completing a £116m move from Nottingham Forest. The 23-year-old, who was ever-present for Forest last season, praised the club and said: ‘They’re winners, relentless, a team I want to be part of’.

Anderson's transfer follows a breakthrough period for the midfielder, who played a significant role in England’s third-place finish at the World Cup. He arrived at City from Nottingham Forest after a season in which he featured in every Premier League match for Forest. The move briefly set a British transfer benchmark until Morgan Rogers’ £117m transfer to Chelsea from Aston Villa on Tuesday. Anderson has also spoken of Kevin De Bruyne as a formative influence, hailing De Bruyne as a childhood inspiration.

The fee for Anderson’s switch to City totals £116m, signalling one of the most expensive domestic transfers in recent years. That figure made him the most costly British player at the time of the deal, a distinction that was overtaken by Morgan Rogers’ subsequent £117m move to Chelsea from Aston Villa on Tuesday. The magnitude of the transaction underlines the premium Manchester City placed on adding him to their squad.

On the field, Anderson arrives having been a consistent presence for Nottingham Forest, a season highlighted by his status as an ever-present in their Premier League campaign. He also took part in England’s run to third place at the World Cup, a tournament in which he was regarded as an important contributor. Those experiences frame the credentials City considered when finalising the transfer.

Anderson’s personal remarks underlined his admiration for City’s culture and personnel, including his reference to Kevin De Bruyne as a childhood inspiration. His declaration that “They’re winners, relentless, a team I want to be part of” captures the attraction he said the club holds for him.

The move places Anderson at one of the country’s leading clubs and briefly made him the most expensive British signing before Morgan Rogers’ deal. His arrival will be watched closely given his recent international and domestic consistency.