Elliot Anderson calls City ‘kings of Manchester’ after move

Elliot Anderson says Manchester City’s winning culture was central to his decision to join the club, with the midfielder describing them as the “kings of Manchester” after completing his move from Nottingham Forest.

Anderson explains why City appealed

The 23-year-old arrives at City in a £116m transfer and has signed a contract running until 2031. In comments published by the club, Anderson made clear that City’s recent record of success was a major factor in his choice.

He said he wanted to be part of a side defined by trophies, intensity and consistency, pointing to the club’s dominance over the past decade. Anderson also highlighted the first Manchester derby of the new season as a fixture he is especially looking forward to, calling it one of the biggest derbies in world football.

Those remarks are unlikely to go unnoticed across the city, particularly given his view that City have set the standard in Manchester for as long as he can remember.

Rapid rise for club and country

Anderson’s move continues a sharp upward trajectory in his career. He was a key figure in England’s run to a third-place finish at the World Cup and had been an ever-present for Forest in the Premier League last season.

His England debut came only last September, in a win over Andorra, underlining how quickly his profile has grown. Before Morgan Rogers’ move from Aston Villa to Chelsea, Anderson’s fee had stood as a British-record transfer.

The midfielder, born on Tyneside, began his career at Newcastle before joining Forest for £35m in July 2024. Despite the scale of his progress, he insisted he is still some way from his peak and believes there is more to come from his game.

A new era under Maresca

Anderson is City’s first major signing since Enzo Maresca replaced Pep Guardiola as manager. The midfielder said he has followed Maresca’s teams closely in recent seasons and has also heard positive reviews from Chelsea players who worked with the Italian.

That stylistic fit appears to matter to Anderson. He described himself as a player who thrives on intensity, energy and driving the crowd, suggesting he sees a natural connection between his own game and the demands of his new manager.

After his summer with England in North America, Anderson is now taking a three-week break before beginning work at City.

Numbers and influences behind the move

Anderson arrives with standout Premier League metrics from last season. According to the figures cited around his move, he led the division for touches, duels won and possessions regained.

• Most touches: 3,300
• Most duels won: 297
• Most times winning possession: 306

He believes that blend of quality, physicality and energy can add something different to City’s midfield.

Anderson also pointed to Kevin De Bruyne as a long-time inspiration. He said that while coming through Newcastle’s academy, he regularly watched the Belgian and wanted to model parts of his game on him. For Anderson, joining the club where De Bruyne built his reputation adds another layer of significance to the transfer.