Elliot Anderson has been unveiled as Manchester City's record £116m signing and the England midfielder has wasted no time making it clear he chose City over Manchester United.
Anderson declared: "Manchester City are one of the biggest clubs in the world and the squad they have is amazing - so strong in every position. As soon as I knew they wanted me, I was absolutely determined to make this move happen. As a footballer, you want to test yourself at the highest level. Being at City means I have that opportunity. "From the outside looking in, City are a club that treats its players well and provides the perfect environment to excel. The success they have had, and the way they have played the game in the last 10 to 15 years has been extraordinary. It's a privilege to be given the chance to be part of that."
City agreed to pay a club record fee for Anderson, exceeding the £100m spent on Jack Grealish in 2021, and fended off competition from Manchester United.
The England midfielder has signed a five-year contract at the Etihad Stadium with the option of a further 12 months. The deal was agreed earlier this month but finalised this week following the player's return from the World Cup after helping the Three Lions to a third-place finish. Anderson, who has signed a five-year deal at the Etihad Stadium, has warned he has not reached his peak yet. “I'm only 23, so I've got plenty of time to get to my best levels and I definitely think I'm not there yet and there's more to come from me,” the former Newcastle midfielder said.
And City director of football Hugo Viana added: “Elliot is one of the outstanding young midfield talents in world football right now. “He offers energy, outstanding work rate and an exceptional range of passing. His improvement in recent years has been really impressive and underlines his desire to be the best player he can be. “At just 23, there is plenty of opportunity for development over the coming years and we feel he can become a complete midfielder.”