Wael El Qadi sends Bristol Rovers reaction to huge Elliot Anderson transfer news | OneFootball

Elliot Anderson is set to become Manchester City's record signing, four years after winning promotion from League Two with the Gas

Elliot Anderson is on the brink of breaking a Manchester City record, as his imminent transfer from Nottingham Forest is set to stand as the European giants' most expensive arrival in their history.

The 23-year-old, currently in the midst of what is expected to be a star-making World Cup tournament with England, is set to have a medical out in North America before confirming a move to the Etihad Stadium for a reported £116 million, per City sources.

Anderson has excelled in the engine room at Nottingham Forest for the past couple of seasons and has thoroughly deserved such a high-profile switch. However, those at Bristol Rovers knew of his quality before he even broke through at Newcastle United.

Indeed, four years ago, the midfielder was celebrating the unlikeliest of promotions at the Memorial Ground, as the Gas beat Scunthorpe United 7-0 on the final day of the 2021/22 League Two campaign, overturning a five-goal swing to finish third ahead of Northampton Town.

The then-19-year-old scored seven and assisted six in just 21 fourth-tier outings for Bristol Rovers, kickstarting what has been a meteoric rise to now playing for the eight-time Premier League champions, costing them a record fee.

Wael Al Qadi sends a message to Elliot Anderson ahead of Manchester City move

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The owner of Bristol Rovers at the time of Anderson's loan move to the Memorial Ground was Wael Al Qadi, who oversaw some memorable moments during his near-decade stint at the club.

The second of the club's consecutive promotions from the Conference to League One in the 2015/16 season, alongside that miraculous 2021/22 campaign, was overseen by Al Qadi, and at best, the Gas finished inside the top 10 in the third tier under his ownership.

The Jordanian sold 55% of his shares in Dwane Sports, who own Bristol Rovers, back in 2023, and would then sell the remaining 45% over 18 months, starting in November 2024.

While it was initially expected that Al Qadi would remain a central figure at the club, he was swiftly replaced by the new owners in their leadership structure, and he spoke of his grief about the situation exclusively to FLW back in January.

Nevertheless, he still holds a deep affection for Bristol Rovers, and often posts about them on his Instagram page. Following the news that Anderson was set to complete a £116 million move to Manchester City, he posted a message on his page wishing him well.

"Congrats @elliotandersonn on becoming the world’s all-time record midfield signing. Well deserved," he said. More to come, I’m sure.

All us Gasheads are extremely proud of you. Wishing you all the best at Man City."

The 23-year-old eclipsed the £107 million that Chelsea paid for Enzo Fernandez back in 2023, making him the most expensive midfielder of all time. Aleksandar Isak remains the British transfer record, however, with Liverpool spending £125 million on his services last summer.

Elliot Anderson's imminent move highlights the importance of the EFL in nurturing young stars

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While Anderson didn't come through an EFL academy, it was his time in League Two at Bristol Rovers that indicated to Newcastle back in 2022 that he was ready for some first-team action at St James' Park.

The then-teenage midfielder made his senior Magpies debut during the 2020/21 campaign, making substitute appearances in FA Cup and Premier League games against Arsenal. However, the opening half of the 2021/22 term didn't offer any opportunities in Eddie Howe's side.

That trend could likely have been followed in future campaigns if Anderson had remained a Newcastle player through the second half of that season. But his 13 goal involvements at Bristol Rovers made the Magpies boss take notice.

He was integrated into first-team action more in 2022/23, albeit as a substitute, but that allowed him to stake his claim for more minutes the following year. Evidently, if Newcastle didn't feel they needed to sell him to avoid breaking Profit and Sustainability Rulings, he'd have remained at the club where he came through the academy, rather than move to Nottingham Forest.

That transfer envy may not have materialised at all, though, if he'd been left by the wayside, which could have happened if not for that loan spell with the Gas.

It showcases the importance of the EFL in allowing young stars to get the exposure needed to make it in some of England's top teams, and while they may not be credited directly, there'll be some people believing that, if not for Bristol Rovers, a £116 million signing may not be made this summer.