Manchester City have agreed to pay a record British fee to sign 23‑year‑old midfielder Elliot Anderson, pushing the club’s transfer record beyond the £100m paid for Jack Grealish. The move marks Manchester City’s first major post‑Pep signing and signals a new era under incoming coach Enzo Maresca.

Anderson’s 2025‑26 season saw him touch the ball 3,300 times, far more than any other Premier League midfielder. He won 298 duels, led the league with 306 possessions won and registered 80 fouls won, while completing 2,038 passes and delivering 376 line‑breaking passes.

Despite Forest’s four managerial changes and a 16th‑place finish, Anderson thrived in a squad that played transitional football. His 411km of coverage and 1,895 high‑intensity pressures placed him second among midfielders, while he contributed four goals, four assists and 54 chances created in a season where the club struggled to dominate possession.

City’s acquisition aligns with Maresca’s preference for ball‑winning, progressive midfielders. Anderson will slot into a system that already values aggressive recovery, as seen with Chelsea’s Caicedo and Fernandez. With Bernardo Silva shifting to a defensive role, the new partnership could replace City’s recent midfield balance and set a new standard for the club’s tactical identity.