Elliot Anderson has been hot property for a lot of big clubs already this summer and his England performances have only added more value to his price tag.
Man City are starting the Maresca era off with a bang by agreeing a £116 million deal to bring the Forest midfielder to the Etihad. Breaking their own transfer record to bring in a tempo setting, forward thinking midfielder shows their not planning on being second again any time soon
Why City Broke the Bank for Elliot Anderson
Nottingham Forest played serious hardball during the early weeks of the window. Having signed Anderson for £35 million from Newcastle back in 2023, the club knew they were sitting on a massive profit.
The Citizens initially saw an opening offer rejected, but the club were absolutely determined to land their top summer target.
For City fans wondering exactly what their £116 million is buying, Anderson is a forward thinking no. 8 who is good at bringing the ball forward and getting the team moving in transition replacing that Bernardo shaped hole.
Bringing defensive work rate and the ability to keep the ball in tight spaces, you can see why a lot of top teams were after him. He also isn't afraid to get stuck into tackles, making him the ultimate box-to-box engine.
The newly agreed £116 million upfront fee doesn't break the £125m British record fee Liverpool spent on Isak last summer. But it is the highest fee paid for a midfielder ever let alone the Premier League.
With Bernardo Silva moving on and 30-year-old Rodri continually linked with a potential move to Real Madrid upon his contract expiring, The Sky Blues view Anderson as the perfect foundational piece to build their new-look midfield around.
The Last Steps of the Deal
Because Anderson is currently playing for the Three Lions at the World Cup, the personal side of the deal will be done across the pond. So far he has started both group games and probably will be a key part of England's midfield in the knockout stages.
To get the deal over the line without disrupting his tournament, Anderson has been given permission to do a medical in New York on Friday. England boss Thomas Tuchel has said he would not stop his players from completing club moves during the tournament.
A Statement Signing for the Maresca Era
City don't often splash out massive fees to this level on one player unless they see them in their long term plans. So Maresca must see the 23-year-old as a clear Rodri replacement to give City that energy in midfield to suit his new system.
This season will be the real test for the Citizens under a new gaffer, system and bouncing back from an inconsistent season.
Adjusting to life without Pep will always be a tough task, but being able to sign a Premier League proven midfielder with bags of potential, who can also fill the homegrown quota, is a good start to City's summer business.
