Declan Rice Praises Elliot Anderson Ahead of £116M Transfer

Declan Rice has praised Elliot Anderson as one of the best he's played with, ahead of the midfielder's £116M move to Manchester City. On 2 July 2026, Rice spoke about Anderson's upcoming transfer.

Rice said he had a great chat with Anderson, telling him to focus on his game and not the transfer fee.

Rice's endorsement adds weight to Anderson's move, given his own experience with a high-profile transfer from West Ham to Arsenal in 2023.

Anderson's move to Manchester City is in its final stages, with the midfielder set to join the club under new manager Enzo Maresca.

Rice drew parallels between his own move to Arsenal and Anderson's impending arrival at Manchester City, highlighting the pressure of carrying a record fee.

Anderson has been part of the same England squad as Rice throughout the ongoing FIFA World Cup, giving Rice a close-up look at his skills.

The £116M transfer fee is a record for Manchester City, and Rice believes Anderson has the quality to justify the investment.

Rice described Anderson as the "engine room" of Nottingham Forest, dominating possession and driving the team forward.

Anderson's humility and skill have impressed Rice, who believes he will be a real success at Manchester City.

The transfer is set to be completed soon, with Anderson joining Manchester City under Enzo Maresca's management.