Manchester City have agreed a club-record deal worth £116 million with Nottingham Forest to sign Elliot Anderson, according to BBC Sport.
The 23-year-old England midfielder is expected to undergo a medical before completing his move to the Etihad Stadium.
While City sources insist the fee is a straight £116m with no add-ons, other reports suggest the package could rise to £130m, which would surpass the £125m Liverpool paid Newcastle United for Alexander Isak last summer and set a new British transfer record.
Forest had rejected two previous bids from City before an agreement was finally reached, although there had always been confidence that a deal would eventually be struck. Personal terms are not expected to pose any issues.
The Midlands club are now expected to strengthen their midfield, with Tottenham’s Lucas Bergvall and Inter Milan’s Davide Frattesi among their targets.
Speaking ahead of England’s final Group L match against Panama at the World Cup on Saturday, Anderson insisted he was fully focused on international duty.
“It’s pretty easy really, I’m just focusing on the present, I’m blocking it all out,” he said.
“I’ve got a plan and it’s to perform for England. I’m putting myself in the best position to cross the line and do that.”
Elliot Anderson joined Forest from Newcastle United for £35m in 2024 and went on to make 88 appearances for the club, scoring four goals.
He helped Forest finish seventh in the Premier League in 2024-25 before they ended last season in 16th place and reached the Europa League semi-finals.
Anderson joined boyhood club Newcastle at the age of eight and made his first-team debut in 2021.
He made 55 appearances before being sold to Nottingham Forest in 2024, a transfer driven by Newcastle’s need to comply with profit and sustainability rules. Manager Eddie Howe later described it as “the most reluctant” sale of his career.
The midfielder quickly established himself as a key player at Forest, helping the club qualify for Europe in 2024-25.
After representing Scotland at youth level, he switched allegiance to England’s Under-21s in August 2024 and made his senior England debut in September 2025.
During the 2025-26 campaign, Anderson led the Premier League for touches (3,300), possessions won (306), duels won (297) and fouls drawn (80). He also doubled his goal tally from two to four, while registering four assists.
Read more: Media accreditation officially opens for All Star Festival 2026
Liverpool ‘trying to sign’ Real Madrid left-back Fran Garcia
Liverpool ‘make enquiries’ for Dortmund midfielder Felix Nmecha