Transfer fees often hinge on upside as much as on proven pedigree. In Anderson, City clearly believe they’re getting both.
At 23, he arrives at the Etihad as a record signing, surpassing the £100m paid for Jack Grealish, after a standout season with Forest in which he quietly emerged as one of the Premier League’s most complete central midfielders.
Forest may have finished 16th, but Anderson’s impact was exceptional.
No player in the Premier League had more touches than his 3,300 in 2025-26.
He also topped the division for duels won (298), ball recoveries (306) and fouls won (80), highlighting how often he influenced play at both ends.
These metrics depict a midfielder permanently involved: he demands the ball, wins it back more than anyone, and sustains his intensity throughout.
His on-ball quality was just as notable. Among Premier League central midfielders, he completed the most passes (2,038) and led the way with 376 line-breaking passes.
Rather than simply keeping possession ticking over, he regularly pierced defensive lines and moved Forest upfield. That mix of security and ambition is rare.
The physical numbers are equally strong. He covered 411km in the league—second only to Everton’s James Garner—and his 1,895 high-intensity pressures ranked second among midfielders.
He started 37 league games, missing out only once when Forest made wholesale changes before a Europa League semi-final against Aston Villa in early May.
Availability is a premium trait in modern football; Anderson not only delivers, he delivers relentlessly.
Perhaps most impressive is the context. Forest cycled through four managers and spent long stretches playing transitional football rather than controlling the ball. Anderson was often required to defend big spaces, then flip play into attack quickly.
Even within those demands, he remained among the league leaders for progressive passing while topping several defensive categories.
His attacking output deserves mention too: four league goals, four assists, 54 chances created, nine big chances, and 4.8 expected assists. No one at Forest created more chances or big chances.
The data indicates City aren’t just adding another technically polished midfielder; they’re signing someone who can shape every phase of the game.
Record fees always attract scrutiny.
But Anderson’s numbers show why City are willing to spend this heavily. Few midfielders blend elite ball-winning, tireless work, forward-thinking passing and creativity as he does.
The next step is applying those strengths in one of the world’s most demanding teams.
If he can get close to his Forest standards in a City side that expects to dominate the ball every week, the fee may soon look far less eye-catching than it does today.