Elliot Anderson is set to join Manchester City in a record-breaking £116 million transfer from Nottingham Forest, but he will face an immediate setback: his preferred shirt number is already taken. The 22-year-old England midfielder usually wears the No. 8 jersey at club and international level, but that number is currently occupied by City's Mateo Kovacic.
Record-Breaking Transfer Agreed
A deal was struck at club level earlier this week, with Nottingham Forest set to receive a transfer fee of £116 million for Anderson. This is the most money ever paid for a British player, surpassing the £100 million City spent to sign Jack Grealish five years ago. Anderson, who is currently representing England at the World Cup, has emerged as one of the Premier League's most coveted midfielders in recent seasons. He was expected to leave Forest this summer, and City have moved quickly to secure his signature.
A medical will take place in New York on Friday, with the deal subject to the completion of personal terms. Anderson will almost certainly enjoy a significant wage increase, but he will need to compromise on his shirt number when his transfer is confirmed.
Shirt Number Dilemma
Anderson usually wears the No. 8 at club and international level, but it is currently occupied by Mateo Kovacic. This means Anderson will need to settle on a new number when he officially joins City ahead of next season. One potential option could be the No. 12, which has been available since Angelino left the club in 2020. The midfielder could also inherit the No. 17, which became iconic during Kevin De Bruyne's time at the club, while No. 18 and No. 19 are also up for grabs.
Anderson's Career So Far
Anderson has made 92 appearances for Nottingham Forest and featured in every league game during the 2025/26 season, chipping in with four goals and four assists. He made his England debut in September and has started both of his country's World Cup games against Croatia and Ghana. It's likely that he will be named in the starting XI again when the Three Lions face Panama on Saturday.
City's Pursuit and Ambitions
City saw an initial bid worth more than £100 million rejected by Forest before eventually coming to an agreement, with personal terms not expected to be a problem. They will be hoping for Anderson to hit the ground running next season as they look to dethrone Arsenal at the summit of the Premier League table.
