England Star Anderson Becomes Most Expensive British Player After $147M City Move

Manchester City just dropped $147 million on a 23-year-old from Nottingham Forest. And Elliot Anderson hasn’t even played a game for them yet.

The deal, which both clubs confirmed on Thursday, makes Anderson the most expensive British player in history. The previous record? Also City, actually. They paid $140 million for Declan Rice back in 2023. Anderson’s fee eclipses that by a solid $7 million, though it still trails the $151 million Liverpool spent on Alexander Isak and the $140 million they gave Bayer Leverkusen for Florian Wirtz last summer.

Here’s the wild part. Anderson already did his medical. In Kansas. Because he’s currently at the World Cup with England, where he’s started all four matches for the Three Lions and looked like one of their best players. City flew a medical team to the U.S. to get it done.

New manager, new philosophy

Enzo Maresca has been on the job for about six weeks, and this is his first big swing. The former Chelsea boss replaced Pep Guardiola after the Catalan coach finally stepped away following eight Premier League titles and a Champions League trophy in 2023. Maresca wants to build his own team, and the message is clear — he’s not afraid to spend.

Anderson was the breakout star of last season’s Premier League. The attacking midfielder put up 14 goals and 11 assists for a Forest side that finished seventh. Manchester United was sniffing around, and there were rumors Arsenal had him on a shortlist. But City moved fast.

And they had to. Anderson’s World Cup performances only drove the price higher. He’s been electric in the knockout rounds, creating chances and pressing like a man possessed. England plays Brazil in the quarterfinals this weekend.

Whether Anderson can handle that price tag is another question. City fans have seen big-money signings flop before (ask anyone about the Kalvin Phillips situation). But Maresca’s system demands versatile attacking players who can play across the front line, and Anderson fits that mold perfectly.

City aren’t done either. They’ve been linked with a center-back and a left-sided midfielder and are expected to ramp up activity once the World Cup ends. Maresca knows the Premier League title won’t be easy — Arsenal and Liverpool are both reloading — and City want to win the Champions League for only the second time in club history.

For now, Anderson’s the face of the new era. The price tag says everything. The performance is up next.