Elliot Anderson turns Man City 'dream' into reality

The 23-year-old midfielder joined City from Nottingham Forest during the European summer after helping England win a bronze medal at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Anderson has quickly established himself under new manager Enzo Maresca, with City making a perfect start to the 2026/27 campaign. He believes the changes at the club can mark the beginning of a new era.

"I think it's very exciting," Anderson said on the official Manchester City Podcast.

"Obviously there's been big change and a new manager, a lot of players that have left, a new era as you could say, but every era has started like this and this is hopefully the start of a new one."

Anderson began playing at Wallsend Boys Club before joining Newcastle United's academy at Under-8 level.

He made his Newcastle first-team debut at 18 in a 2-0 FA Cup defeat by Arsenal and made his Premier League debut against the same opponents less than two weeks later.

Looking back on his journey, Anderson credited his family, particularly his grandfather, for encouraging him to keep working hard.

"It was amazing," he said of representing Newcastle, his boyhood club.

"The best piece of advice was what my grandad gave me. Obviously my dad and my mum would have done as well, but he just used to say, 'the hard work that you're putting in' - and I know everyone seems to say it but it's so true.

"I think every session I had I would work my hardest. I would make sure that I hadn't wasted a day in trying to get better and fitter and just putting me in the best place to be a professional footballer really."

Anderson had already been introduced to City during his academy days at Newcastle.

He recalled regularly facing City at Under-14 and Under-15 level, although those matches often ended in heavy defeats for Newcastle.

"It was funny because I was talking to my dad the other day as I used to come down here at probably Under-14s/15s," Anderson said.

"I would remember coming down here and we'd just get pumped every time - 10-0, 8-0, 9-0 - and it was always quite tough because I'd go back up to Newcastle and I'd be thinking I'm miles away and all these players are so good.

"I always used to think it would be so good playing for that team and winning those games and stuff and it's quite strange because I'm here now and playing for the first team which is quite surreal."

For Anderson, the journey from being a young Newcastle player struggling against City's academy to becoming a first-team player at the Etihad has brought one of his childhood ambitions to life.

City's next challenge comes on Thursday night when they host Norwich City in the third round of the EFL Cup at the Etihad Stadium.