How Elliot Anderson made his first enemies in Manchester before kicking a ball

Elliot Anderson wasted no time making his allegiances known after completing a British record move to Manchester City. He immediately declared that City have been the dominant force across Manchester for as long as he can remember. 

His statement made the September der against Manchester United as a fixture he already can’t wait for.

The 23-year-old England international completed his switch from Nottingham Forest this month in a deal worth a club-record £116m.

The deal briefly made him the most expensive player in Premier League history before Chelsea’s move for Morgan Rogers pushed the fee into second place.

Manchester United had also shown interest in Anderson before the summer, but his clear preference for City, combined with Forest’s demanding valuation, led the Old Trafford club to redirect their business towards Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans instead.

City’s media team could not resist the opportunity to needle their rivals, posting a tongue-in cheek graphic on social media that played on the idea of Anderson choosing them ahead of United.

The midfielder himself went further in his first City interview, making a pointed remark about the balance of power in Manchester during his introduction on Thursday.

“Kings of Manchester” comment sets the tone 

Speaking to club media, Anderson said the Manchester der ranks among the biggest fixtures anywhere in the world. He added that for as long as he has followed English football, City have been the dominant club in the city. He said he was looking forward to being part of that fixture.

“It’s one of the biggest derbies in the world and for as long as I’ve known Manchester [soccer], City have been the Kings of Manchester,” he said in his official unveiling on Thursday, throwing some early shade across the divide.

“It’ll be a great fixture, and I can’t wait to be involved in something like that.”

It is a bold statement from a player with no previous connection to Manchester, having been born and raised in Newcastle.

But the numbers back up his framing of recent history. Anderson was only ten years old when Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 after delivering his final Premier League title for United.

That moment coincided with City’s rise following the 2008 Abu Dhabi takeover. In the decade since, City have won six league titles to United’s none, with United’s best finish in that span a distant runner-up spot.

Even across Anderson’s entire lifetime, City have lifted the Premier League trophy eight times to United’s five.

For a generation of young players growing up in the 21st century, City’s status as the pre-eminent club in Manchester is simply the world they have known, regardless of the scrutiny that has followed the club’s rapid rise.

Anderson will get his first taste of the fixture from the inside when City travel to Old Trafford on September 13.

Der history offers United fans some hope 

City’s rise has not made the fixture predictable, however, and history suggests Anderson should be wary of taking anything for granted.

City’s declaration of dominance masks a fierce and unpredictable rivalry: across 58 Manchester derbies, City have won 27 to United’s 22, with nine draws, a far tighter margin than the recent trophy count would suggest.

Even the most recent instalment defied the form book. In January 2026, City travelled to Old Trafford as strong favourites against a United side under interim charge of Michael Carrick.

The Cityzens were beaten 2-0 in a result that stunned many observers and showed United are still capable of raising their game for the occasion.

That result serves as a reminder that whatever the broader trends over the past decade, the Manchester der has a habit of throwing up surprises.

Anderson will hope to help ensure City settle any early scores when the two sides meet again in September, but United’s players will be just as determined to give their new sky-blue rival a harsh introduction to life in Manchester’s biggest fixture.