Elliot Anderson’s Manchester City transfer placed on hold by Thomas Tuchel | OneFootball

England manager Thomas Tuchel has insisted that the completion of Elliot Anderson’s transfer to Manchester City must be placed on hold temporarily.

Elliot Anderson is on the verge of completing a sensational £116 million move to Manchester City after an agreement was reached with Nottingham Forest earlier this week.

The 23-year-old is braced for a medical in New York City over the weekend in accordance with England’s FIFA World Cup commitments and with a minor glute injury he picked up this week.

A deal worth £116 million – confirmed by both clubs and representing a new City record – has been agreed, with Anderson the subject of one of the most high-profile transfers in Premier League history while simultaneously preparing for a pivotal World Cup group stage match against Panama on Saturday.

England manager Thomas Tuchel had previously signalled his openness to allowing players to complete medicals during the tournament, but has now clarified that formal completion of Anderson’s move will be delayed until after England’s final group stage fixture against Panama.

Tuchel: We will facilitate the transfer – but after the match

Speaking to the media ahead of England’s final group stage game at the FIFA World Cup, Tuchel was quizzed directly on Anderson’s situation and his pending move to the Etihad Stadium.

“The reality is that transfers are going on and big transfers take their time,” said the German coach. “We understand things are going on. We will facilitate the transfer but after the match, not before.”

The comments confirm that while director of football Hugo Viana and City’s hierarchy have done the necessary work to get the deal to its final stage, having seen two formal offers rejected by Nottingham Forest before a full agreement was struck this week.

A formal completion of the transfer will now hinge on the conclusion of England’s group stage campaign in North America but incoming Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca is set to welcome Anderson as his first signing at the Etihad Stadium – as the Italian coach also awaits a resolution in compensation talks between his former and upcoming employers.

What does Tuchel’s stance mean for Manchester City’s timeline?

Tuchel’s position is straightforward and understandable, with England navigating a crucial moment in their World Cup campaign – and the distraction of a high-profile transfer completion is something the manager is keen to manage carefully and on his own terms.

For Maresca and Manchester City, the delay is temporary rather than significant, with the structure of the deal already agreed between the two clubs and Anderson’s medical formalities lined up for whenever they can logistically occur.

Whether an announcement follows immediately after England’s Panama fixture or requires a brief further window remains to be seen – but Tuchel’s comments leave little doubt that the move will be formally completed in the very near future.