Elliot Anderson’s Newcastle United exit cuts even deeper as expert makes £50m claim

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Elliot Anderson is preparing to make his first St James’ Park appearance as a Nottingham Forest player.

Newcastle United sold Elliot Anderson during the summer transfer window, with the academy graduate moving to Nottingham Forest as the Magpies scrambled to comply with PSR.

They got £35million for him, while the Yankuba Minteh sale also ensured that Newcastle did not fall foul of financial rules. But Eddie Howe wanted to keep Anderson, and there was real disappointment when he waved goodbye to St James’ Park.

Anderson’s Newcastle United exit was ‘sad’, but now he is on his way back to Tyneside. Newcastle welcome Nottingham Forest to St James’ Park on Sunday, as both sides continue their quest to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

Ahead of that game, Geordie Boot Boys have spoken to Nottingham Forest News writer and Forest expert Lee Clarke about Anderson’s start to life at the City Ground.

What has been ‘surprising’ about Elliot Anderson after Newcastle United exit

Newcastle United fans knew all about Anderson’s quality, which is why there was so much sadness when he was sold. But he was perhaps an unknown quantity to Nottingham Forest fans, who have quickly seen what all the hype on Tyneside was about.

“He’s been nothing short of excellent,” Clarke said.

“After forcing his way into the team he has become a mainstay and he is getting better with every performance at the moment.

“The most surprising aspect of Anderson arriving has been how good he has been as a conventional central midfielder. It was anticipated he might be viewed as more of a 10 to rotate with Morgan Gibbs-White, but instead he is the mainstay in the midfield with Espirito Santo often seeing his midfield selection as Anderson and one other.”

Elliot Anderson’s value after Nottingham Forest heroics

£35million seemed like a lot of money for Anderson, while it is caveated by the fact that Newcastle paid £20million for Odysseas Vlachodimos to move the other way.

But has it proven to be money well spent for Forest? Clarke certainly thinks so.

“It really does,” he said.

“Clearly there was going to be some British tax on a player like Anderson but if Forest are going to be a club that spends £35million on one player then I hope going forward they can have the same impact as Anderson who fits the profile of our recruitment down to the ground.

“It is hard to say what he would be worth now. We paid £35million for him and he’s now integral, so comfortably £50million. Plus he is English too.”

What is Elliot Anderson’s best position

During his time at Newcastle United, Anderson played a lot of different roles. At youth level, he was an attacking midfielder. Under Eddie Howe, he either played on the left of attack or as a ‘number eight’ in a midfield three.

We even saw Anderson play as a left wing-back, as a bespoke system helped Newcastle United beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 at St James’ Park in April 2024.

But at Forest, Clarke believes that Anderson’s best position is as a deeper midfielder.

“From what I have seen, it is probably central midfield.

“He has not played too many games as a 10 for Forest but his defensive qualities and his ability to turn defence into a attack very quickly cannot be utilised as much from the number 10 role.”

No matter where he plays on Sunday, Anderson will receive a warm reception from the Newcastle United fans, many of which will wish the 22-year-old was still wearing black and white.