Arsenal are reportedly pushing hard to sign Elliot Anderson and see him as a future key player under Mikel Arteta. Fichajes claim the club want him in 2026 as a long-term replacement for Norgaard Nottingham Forest are said to want around £120m for the 23-year-old, a huge fee for a midfielder Arsenal don’t urgently needs

BREAKING NEWS: Arsenal Push Hard for £120m Elliot Anderson, Eye 2026 Midfield Overhaul Under Arteta

By Alex Turner, Transfer Specialist – November 15, 2025

Arsenal have launched a bold long-term vision to reshape their midfield, with Elliot Anderson emerging as Mikel Arteta’s top target for a 2026 blockbuster move, according to Spanish outlet Fichajes. The Gunners see the 23-year-old Nottingham Forest dynamo as the ideal successor to aging stars like Thomas Partey and Jorginho, and are prepared to smash their transfer record to secure him.

Sources claim Arsenal view Anderson, who joined Forest from Newcastle in a £35m deal last summer, as a “future key player” in Arteta’s evolving system. The Englishman has exploded onto the scene this season, registering 6 goals and 8 assists in 18 appearances, while boasting a 91% pass completion rate and averaging 3.2 tackles per game—numbers that have turned heads at the Emirates.

Forest, riding high in the European places, have slapped a staggering £120 million price tag on their prized asset, a figure that would eclipse Arsenal’s current record (£105m for Declan Rice) and represent one of the most expensive midfield transfers in history.

A Calculated Gamble?

The fee has raised eyebrows, especially given Arsenal’s current midfield depth. Declan Rice, Martin Ødegaard, Mikel Merino, and rising star Ethan Nwaneri already form a formidable engine room. But with Partey (32) and Jorginho (33) entering the final phases of their careers, and Mathias Norgaard—erroneously linked in early reports as a direct replacement—actually a Brentford player, Arsenal are planning two windows ahead.

“Anderson isn’t a need for January,” a club insider told The Athletic. “This is about 2026 and beyond. He’s English, homegrown, presses like a beast, and can play 6, 8, or even wide in a pinch. He’s the complete modern midfielder.”

Arteta, speaking after training, refused to comment directly but dropped a hint:

“We don’t just sign players. We build legacies. When we move, it’s because we see someone who can wear this shirt for ten years.”

Forest Dig In

Nottingham Forest, backed by ambitious ownership, have no intention of selling mid-season. Manager Nuno Espírito Santo called Anderson “irreplaceable” in a recent press conference, adding:

“£120m? That’s the starting point. He’s our captain in waiting.”

The Tricky Trees are also in talks to extend Anderson’s contract, which runs until 2030, with a release clause activation only in summer windows.

Rivals on Alert

Manchester United and Chelsea have registered interest, but Arsenal’s project—and Arteta’s personal recruitment pitch—reportedly resonates most with Anderson. The player, a boyhood Gooner, grew up in Whitley Bay idolizing Aaron Ramsey and sees North London as the perfect stage to fulfill his potential.

The Bigger Picture

With Arsenal now nine points clear at the Premier League summit and into the Champions League knockout rounds, financial muscle is growing. The club’s commercial revenue hit a record £210m last quarter, and the potential sale of Eddie Nketiah or Reiss Nelson in 2026 could offset a mega-deal.

If completed, Anderson’s arrival would signal the end of Arsenal’s “project” phase and the dawn of a new dynasty—one built on youth, hunger, and unrelenting ambition.

For now, the message from the Emirates is clear: Elliot Anderson is not a dream. He’s the plan.