Top News

England midfielder Declan Rice has spoken highly of Manchester City’s incoming signing Elliot Anderson, offering the youngster advice ahead of his impending £116 million transfer.

Rice shared that he had told Anderson to view the record-breaking fee as “just noise” during a candid conversation between the two while on international duty.

The Arsenal star expressed confidence that Anderson “will be a real success” once he completes his move to Manchester City.

Arsenal and England’s Declan Rice has given high praise to Elliot Anderson as the Nottingham Forest midfielder’s £116 million switch to Manchester City edges closer to confirmation.

Since making his own major move from West Ham United to Arsenal in 2023, Rice has established himself as one of Europe’s leading midfielders. His perspective on managing the pressures that come with a record transfer carries weight, shaped by his own experiences at the elite level of football.

Anderson, who is on the verge of finalising his £116 million transfer from Nottingham Forest to Manchester City, has been part of the same England squad as Rice during the ongoing FIFA World Cup. This has given Rice an intimate understanding of how the 23-year-old has handled the intense scrutiny surrounding one of the summer’s biggest deals.

The close proximity between the two players appears to have left a strong impression on Rice, who took the opportunity to personally advise Anderson on dealing with the pressures of a high-value transfer at a young age – a challenge he himself faced when moving across London.

Rice’s endorsement adds weight to the narrative surrounding Anderson’s move, reinforcing the belief among those who have trained alongside him during the World Cup that the young midfielder possesses both the mentality and ability to justify Manchester City’s record investment.

In an interview with The Telegraph’s Jason Burt, Rice shared details of their conversation: “We had a great chat, sat outside on beanbags. I just said he can’t control the price he’s going for,” Rice said regarding Anderson’s upcoming record move to Manchester City.

“I couldn’t control what I went for. The reason he’s going for that price is because he’s been one of the best in Europe this season. If you watch him at Forest, everything goes through him.

“He’s always on the ball, the engine room. I tried to help him see that the price is just noise. Keep doing what you’ve been doing and you’ll be fine.

“He’s such a humble guy, it won’t affect him. He just needs to keep playing his game and he’ll be a real success – I genuinely think he’s one of the best I’ve played with.”

The straightforward nature of Rice’s praise – coming from a player who has shared the pitch with some of the finest midfielders of his generation – stands out as one of the strongest endorsements Anderson has received ahead of his move to the Etihad Stadium, where he will work under new manager Enzo Maresca.

The similarities between Rice’s own transfer to Arsenal and Anderson’s upcoming move to Manchester City are evident. Both players have had to shoulder the weight of record fees while proving themselves within systems that demand both tactical awareness and individual excellence.

Rice’s description of Anderson as “the engine room” of Nottingham Forest aligns with the profile sought by City’s director of football, Hugo Viana, as the club reshapes its midfield this summer. They are looking for a player who can control possession, drive play forward, and link attacking moves as the key pivot in the team’s structure.

Whether Anderson can meet the high expectations set by Rice will only become clear once Maresca’s first competitive campaign begins. However, with such strong endorsements arriving before he has even played a match for his new club, anticipation is building for one of Manchester City’s most exciting signings in recent memory.