Anderson joins Manchester City for £116m in club-record deal during World Cup

Elliot Anderson is completing a club-record £116 million move to Manchester City, with the England midfielder undergoing his medical in the United States on Friday morning while on international duty at the 2026 World Cup.

The former Nottingham Forest player will become City’s costliest signing in their history, surpassing Jack Grealish’s £100 million arrival in 2021. The deal, confirmed by transfer reporters David Ornstein of The Athletic and Fabrizio Romano, contains no financial add-ons, fixing the fee firmly at £116 million.

However, the question of whether Anderson also breaks the British transfer record remains unresolved. Liverpool’s signing of Alexander Isak stands at £125 million, and while early reports had suggested Anderson’s move could reach £130 million, that figure has since been revised downward. Nottingham Forest, according to transfer journalist Ben Jacobs, maintain the deal is structured as worth up to £130 million, leaving open the possibility that Isak’s record could yet be surpassed.

Anderson has been one of the standout performers at the 2026 World Cup, catching the eye in a Three Lions shirt as England look to advance from Group L. His medical is scheduled for Friday, ahead of England’s match against Panama, which he is expected to feature in.

The signing arrives at a significant moment of transition for Manchester City. Pep Guardiola, who guided the club to six Premier League titles in nine seasons, will not be in charge next season, with Enzo Maresca understood to be the incoming manager. Anderson is expected to step directly into Maresca’s midfield, helping to fill the void left by the departure of Bernardo Silva.

City finished as Premier League runners-up in 2025/26 but claimed the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, and the Anderson deal signals the club’s intent to compete at the highest level under new leadership.