The footballer hired at a colossal cost to be Manchester City’s future began by drawing from their past. Elliot Anderson can be a man of few words but it was notable that, when he joined City for £116m, he called his new club “the kings of Manchester”. It was a phrase that endeared him to their fans, and came with a further sting to another of his suitors: Manchester United.
“There is always an option,” said Anderson. “You’ve got a big decision to make and I’m confident I’ve made the right one.” But then, in his life of watching and playing football, City live up to that description. It suggests their recent golden age has given them a legacy. “I was probably eight or nine when Aguero scored that goal,” said Anderson, citing Sergio Aguero’s 94th-minute title-winning strike on the last day of the 2011-2012 season. “I’ve been watching City for the past 10 years.”
Their modern-day greats have left an impression on him. Anderson has taken the No 5 shirt that used to belong to John Stones. He is more of a replacement, however, for their midfield maestros. “[Kevin] De Bruyne was always the player I look up to over the last 10 years,” he said. “I loved watching him. To be here at the same club and playing where he played is special.”
Whether Anderson takes on the sort of duties De Bruyne used to have depends in part on a potential sidekick. He described Rodri as one of the best midfielders in the world; given the Spaniard’s status as a Ballon d’Or and World Cup Golden Ball winner, that may have been an understatement. With Barcelona having had one bid rejected for the Spain captain and the probability they will return with a second, Anderson may instead have to form the basis of life after Rodri.
He describes himself as an all-rounder of a midfielder, but thinks he shares some characteristics with Rodri. “I think so,” he said. “I can be. I can do various things within midfield and I’ll see where I get used. I’ll play anywhere to be honest. Creating things, driving forward or the other role if they ask me to do that.”
If part of that rests with Enzo Maresca, the new manager has briefed Anderson about the requirements. “We’ve spoken a few times,” he added. “He explained the sort of things that I need to do. There is a lot of running, a lot of energy. It’s to try and control games. That is what I can do.”
It is what he did at Nottingham Forest, earning him a move that, briefly, made him the most expensive British player ever. He accepts that he will be known as the £116m man. “It always will be [attached],” he said. “As long as I focus on myself and my performances, that’s all I can do.” It may help that Chelsea then made Morgan Rogers the £117m man. “It’s football, isn’t it? I’m good friends with Morgan, I’m delighted he got the move that he wanted,” Anderson said.
His own move came with a couple of interesting footnotes. A superbly-taken equaliser for Forest at the Etihad in March dented City’s title challenge; then, he insisted, he was unaware of their interest, only discovering just before the World Cup. He was undeterred by Pep Guardiola’s departure.
City agreed a fee with Forest while Anderson was in the United States. Some nine days later, he found himself jostling with a new teammate. Erling Haaland wrestled Anderson to the ground, in the referee’s view, and a Norway goal in the World Cup quarter-final was disallowed. The striker disagreed with the decision. The midfielder has nevertheless had an introduction to the top scorer’s sense of humour. “He has been calling me a diver, hasn’t he?” he smiled. “It was funny. He has been really good and has helped me settle in.”
Which probably helps, given the whirlwind speed at which his career has accelerated. A year ago, Anderson had never played senior international football. Now he is the fifth most expensive player ever and has played a key role in taking England to officially their best World Cup finish on foreign soil.
“I take huge confidence knowing that I can perform on a World Cup stage,” said Anderson. He is speaking four weeks to the day since his chances of winning the 2026 tournament ended in the semi-final against Argentina.
“It’s really hard,” he said. “I’m still sort of struggling with that now. There are highs and lows in football.” Anderson’s year has featured far more footballing highs. But as his memories of Aguero and De Bruyne indicate, joining City gives him more peaks to scale.