At Bristol Rovers the players would fight over being on Elliot Anderson’s team in training five-a-sides because they knew they would be victorious. Even as a teenager, the midfielder was a cut above his more experienced peers, becoming an integral part of the club’s promotion to League One, the first step on his journey to becoming the most expensive British player after Manchester City agreed to pay £116m for his services.
The Rovers loan was not the start of a rapid rise for Anderson, who returned to his boyhood club, Newcastle, to find the squad stacked with talented midfielders and struggled to cement a place. In the end, his main contribution at St James’ Park was helping the club avoid financial penalties, his homegrown status helping when he left for Nottingham Forest in 2024 in a deal that in effect valued him at £15m. It is at the City Ground where he has established himself as one of the country’s best midfielders, causing pain to Geordies.
Anderson is the first pillar to arrive in a new era at Manchester City, with Pep Guardiola’s reign retreating into the background. Enzo Maresca will be greeted by an all-action midfielder who is aggressive in the tackle and impressive on the ball. Before all the technical stuff, Anderson’s fitness is an important trait because he does not miss matches. This season he started all but one of Forest’s league games, coming on in the other, and clocked up 3,334 minutes of a possible 3,420, in effect playing five more games than City’s most-used midfielder, Bernardo Silva. In a hectic schedule, availability will be important for City, who will be in four competitions.
Anderson and his England colleague Declan Rice have endured similar schedules over the past two months, going a long way in European competitions and needing to fight to the end in the league. It is Anderson who looks fitter and more mobile at the World Cup, which is not a criticism of Rice, who has said he has been managing neural pain in a hamstring since Christmas, but testament to the outgoing Forest man.
With Rodri’s future uncertain, and the Spaniard experiencing fitness problems in recent times, City needed to strengthen in midfield. Nico González has never convinced and Mateo Kovacic is another who has spent a long time on the sidelines. Anderson is more combative than those three, winning 297 duels and intercepting passes at a greater rate than any of City’s crop, making him a fantastic asset to win possession. Forest, who were in a relegation battle, were more defensive than City but this skillset will be important for a coach who likes to play on the front foot and be aggressive in the press.
When Rodri has been absent no individual was able to fill the role, requiring Guardiola to change tactics to make his team effective, often playing two more defence-minded players to fortify the area. With Anderson, the ambition would be that he be the solitary man in front of the back four, smart enough to position himself cleverly and quick enough across the ground to put out fires.
Needless to say, City do not sign midfielders based on their defensive capabilities alone. Anderson likes to move the ball forward, playing passes into the box with greater regularity than anyone at City. The intention is that, with the attacking talent around him, he will spot gaps and get the ball into the most dangerous areas for Erling Haaland and others to capitalise on. Anderson is not a metronome player, scouting out the easiest pass to either side; he wants to be on the half-turn and move his team up the pitch.
Anderson is an intelligent footballer, able to adapt position when required, which offers the fluidity demanded by Maresca. His ability to play as a No 6, No 8 or No 10 further further justifies the expense of his signing. The 23-year-old went through four head coaches in eight months at Forest and was the fastest to understand the subtle differences demanded by each. Going from the conservatism of Nuno Espírito Santo to all-out attack under Ange Postecoglou is an impossible but Anderson was one of few who transitioned successfully. Whenever Forest were in a tough situation, Anderson was relentless in trying to turn things around, never willing to accept a lost cause and enthusing the crowd with his energy.
He is a diligent professional – hence the barely blemished fitness record – and leaving Newcastle was painful and made him more determined to shine as an elite player. Forest knew the potential they had acquired but the rapid trajectory has surprised even them. Adding more goals and assists would be the next step for Anderson and being at a more attack-minded club should further develop those skills.
City have lost a number of senior players over the past two summers, Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker, Ilkay Gündogan and Silva departing. Maresca will need leaders on and off the pitch and Anderson, although humble and quiet, sets an example through his dedication and work ethic. This is an important trait within an increasingly young group.
Anderson is an illustration of what time on the pitch can do for development. When other young footballers see the progress he has made over two years, going from peripheral figure at Newcastle to the most expensive British footballer and World Cup mainstay, they will know leaving their comfort zone can be hugely beneficial. For Anderson it has changed his life and there is plenty more to come.