adminOliver Glasner has opened up about Elliot Anderson’s departure from Nottingham Forest this summer, confirming the move was essentially a foregone conclusion by the time he took over.
The England international completed a record-breaking transfer to Manchester City earlier this month—initially a British-record fee, though that mark was later topped by Chelsea’s signing of Morgan Rogers. Still, the £116 million deal stands as the biggest sale in Forest’s history.
Anderson’s exit came as Glasner was appointed to succeed Vitor Pereira in the dugout. The Austrian coach signed a three-year contract after leaving Crystal Palace at the end of last season, and he has now admitted he knew from the start that Anderson would be moving on.
Anderson exit ‘accepted’
In a chat with Andy Goldstein and Andy Townsend on Breakfast, Glasner was asked whether Forest ever came close to holding onto the 23-year-old.
His response was blunt: “No, no—it was already decided that he would leave. That’s something we have to accept. We’re not at the top of the food chain in football. Our best players will likely attract big offers, and it becomes a matter of timing.
“When we do sell, there are usually two reasons. One is financial necessity—but that wasn’t the case here at Nottingham. The other is believing you can strengthen the squad overall. Not necessarily in that exact position—I don’t think we could find a better player than Elliot Anderson for Forest right now—but maybe we can add one or two players in other areas and improve as a team. That’s what we’re trying to do.”
Anderson, who helped England finish third at the World Cup, spent two years at Forest after arriving from boyhood club Newcastle United in 2024. He made 92 appearances across all competitions, scoring six goals from midfield.
Forest targets
Glasner also looked ahead to the new season during his radio appearance. He takes over a Forest side that finished 16th in the Premier League last term, staying up by six points, and also reached the Europa League semi-finals before losing to eventual winners Aston Villa.
So far, midfielder Xaver Schlager is Forest’s only summer arrival, joining on a free transfer from RB Leipzig.
Outlining his goals for the campaign, Glasner said: “Step one is bringing consistency to the club, especially after a difficult year. I don’t know all the reasons—that’s in the past, like the two European Cup stars. You can’t rely on trophies won in the 70s and 80s—none of our players were even born then. We have to write our own story.
“First, we need consistency. Then we build on a solid foundation and move forward step by step. Everyone must remember this is only Forest’s fifth season back in the Premier League after roughly 20 years in League One and the Championship. Honestly, the club has done brilliantly in recent years. Now it’s about consistency and gradual progress.
“We want to establish ourselves in the top half of the table, but we all know how tough and competitive the Premier League is.”
Palace return
Glasner arrives at Forest fresh from a trophy-laden spell at Crystal Palace, where he won three pieces of silverware in two years—including the Conference League, FA Cup, and Community Shield.
His return to Selhurst Park on October 10—Forest’s sixth league game of the season—could be a frosty one. The move has added extra spice to an already tense relationship between the clubs, especially after Palace were demoted from last season’s Europa League by UEFA, with Forest taking their place.
Despite that, Glasner is eager for the reunion. “I had more than two fantastic years at Crystal Palace—I truly enjoyed every day there with the players, staff, and ownership. I’m really looking forward to the game, though it will certainly feel strange going into the away dressing room instead of the home one.”
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