Great Addition? Gundogan shares verdict on Elliot Anderson signing

Manchester City are prepared to break their record transfer fee to sign Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson.

Following weeks of intense speculation, City have reached an agreement with Forest to sign the midfielder for a fixed fee of £116 million ($153m). The England midfielder is now expected to undergo medical and sign a long-term deal with his new club.

Gundogan who played an important role in Man City’s triumph over the past few years has now shared his thought on the acquisition of Anderson.

Speaking to ESPN, the former Man City star was asked whether he thought Anderson would be a perfect signing for his former club.

“I think so,” the Galatasaray midfielder said. “I think he has proven that, especially last season with Nottingham [Forest]. He played an incredible season. He had some outstanding performances, also against City.

“I think he had quite an impressive development over the years, and I’m quite sure that he will make a great addition to the City squad.”

Elliot Anderson is challenged by Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland of Manchester City. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Anderson has established himself as one of the best midfielders in the Premier League since his move from Newcastle in 2024. His impressive form last season saw him named among the players representing England at the World Cup.

Gündogan was asked Anderson was the big name signing City needed in the post-Pep Guardiola era, and he gave an honest response.

He replied: “I wouldn’t say he’s the big name. I mean, obviously he is someone that everyone knows. But I don’t think that they are signing him as a superstar, they are signing him as a team player.

“He’s expensive, yes, but this is the Premier League. This is where the best play, so it’s quite normal now. These sums are still maybe huge, or sound huge, but it’s now the market, isn’t it? So people pay it, and they have to pay it for a certain quality.

“I’m quite sure that the people in Manchester will be very happy, because when you watch him play, you feel like it’s someone who sacrifices everything for the team, and that’s what you want to have as a teammate.”