Anderson Declares Man City 'Kings of Manchester' After £116 Million Move

England midfielder Elliot Anderson has officially completed a reported £116 million ($154 million) move to Manchester City, joining from Nottingham Forest. The 23-year-old signed a five-year contract with the option for a further 12 months at the Etihad Stadium. The deal, initially agreed earlier this month, was finalized following Anderson's return from the World Cup.

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I can’t wait to play for this club. It’s a club built to win trophies and compete at the very top of the game. That is exciting for any footballer.

Anderson expressed his elation at joining "one of the biggest clubs in the world," stating his eagerness to play for a club built on winning trophies and competing at the highest level. "I think they’re winners, they’re relentless, and that’s the sort of team I want to be a part of. Over the last 10, 12 years, they’ve dominated, so that’s why I wanted to join," he said.

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I think they’re winners, they’re relentless, and that’s the sort of team I want to be a part of. Over the last 10, 12 years, they’ve dominated, so that’s why I wanted to join.

Looking ahead to the Manchester derby, Anderson declared City the "kings of Manchester." He is eager to participate in the fixture against arch-rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford on September 13, calling it "one of the biggest derbies in the world." Anderson, who came through Newcastle's youth system and played 55 first-team games before moving to Forest for £35 million two years ago, featured 92 times for the Midlands club. He earned his first England call-up last season and became a key player for the team that finished third at the World Cup.

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It’s one of the biggest derbies in the world and for as long as I’ve known Manchester, City have been the kings of Manchester. It’ll be a great fixture and I can’t wait to be involved in something like that.

"I’m only 23, so I’ve got plenty of time to get to my best levels," Anderson commented. "I’m definitely not there yet and there’s more to come from me. I think I bring a bit of everything. I bring quality, I bring physicality, energy. I’d like to think I’d get the fans excited, get them off their feet and bring energy to the team." Manager Enzo Maresca's squad will welcome Anderson for pre-season training next month. City's director of football, Hugo Viana, described Anderson as "one of the outstanding young midfield talents in world football" and expressed confidence that he can "become a complete midfielder." This transfer follows closely after fellow England midfielder Morgan Rogers' reported £117 million move to Chelsea from Aston Villa, a fee that previously broke the transfer record for a British player.

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I’m only 23, so I’ve got plenty of time to get to my best levels. I’m definitely not there yet and there’s more to come from me.