Manchester City have officially secured the signing of England midfielder Elliot Anderson, who arrives at the Etihad Stadium on a five-year contract. The agreement includes an option to extend the deal for a further 12 months. The 23-year-old expressed his excitement about joining the club, describing it as one of the biggest in the world and a team built to compete for top-tier trophies.
Reflecting on his move, Anderson praised the relentless winning culture at the club, noting that their dominance over the last decade was a primary factor in his decision. He is already looking forward to the Manchester derby against Manchester United on September 13, stating that he considers City to be the kings of Manchester. Anderson noted that he cannot wait to participate in such a significant fixture.
The midfielder, who began his career in the youth ranks at Newcastle, made 55 first-team appearances for his boyhood club before transferring to Forest two years ago for £35 million. He played 92 times for the Midlands side and earned his first England call-up last season. Anderson subsequently became a key player under Thomas Tuchel, helping the team secure a third-place finish at the World Cup.
Regarding his own development, Anderson believes he still has room to grow, stating that he is not yet at his best level. He describes his playing style as a blend of quality, physicality, and energy, with a focus on exciting the fans. City’s director of football, Hugo Viana, hailed the arrival, calling Anderson an outstanding young talent who has the potential to become a complete midfielder. Anderson is set to begin pre-season training with manager Enzo Maresca’s squad next month. The transfer follows a record-breaking move for Morgan Rogers, who recently joined Chelsea from Aston Villa for a reported £117 million.
Anderson said he was "over the moon" to be signing for "one of the biggest clubs in the world", with the 23-year-old adding: "I can't wait to play for this club. It's a club built to win trophies and compete at the very top of the game. That is exciting for any footballer.
"It's one of the biggest derbies in the world and for as long as I've known Manchester, City have been the kings of Manchester. It'll be a great fixture and I can't wait to be involved in something like that."
