It would be safe to say that Newcastle United were not able to get the most out of Elliot Anderson’s abilities at St James’ Park. The club’s academy graduate left to join Nottingham Forest in 2024, where he established himself as one of the most highly sought-after midfielders in world football.
Ultimately, it is Manchester City who have come out on top. Reliable sources have confirmed that Anderson is set to join the club for a transfer fee in the region of £116 million.
But where do Newcastle United stand in all of this? Are they going to be profiting in any way from what is set to be the fourth-most expensive transfer in British football history?
The answer appears to be ‘no’. According to a report from BBC Sport, Newcastle United would not stand to benefit financially if Anderson left Nottingham Forest.
Why Newcastle United do not have sell-on clause for Elliot Anderson
Under normal circumstances, you would expect Newcastle United to put in a sell-on clause when parting with someone like Anderson. That has become the norm in modern football, as clubs seek to reduce the risk of seeing a player leave and become significantly more valuable elsewhere.
But as the report goes on to state, Newcastle United had no bargaining position when Anderson joined Nottingham Forest in 2024. The club were desperately trying to raise funds to avoid a breach of profit and sustainability rules and a likely points deduction.
So, it must be a bittersweet feeling for the club to see how well Anderson has done at Nottingham Forest. On one hand, it is great to see an academy graduate establish themselves as one of the most valuable players in football history.
But on the other hand, there has to be the recognition that so much more could have been achieved at St James’ Park, but eventually was not due to the circumstances.
Newcastle face more problems this summer
Unfortunately, Newcastle United are facing fresh problems this summer. And some fans might already be starting to lose faith in this project.
They finished 12th in the Premier League last season. As a result, they are not going to be playing in Europe in the 26/27 campaign. But there could be long-term consequences as well.
The Magpies could be about to see some of their most important players leave in this window. Sandro Tonali has already been on the receiving end of offers from Tottenham Hotspur. Arsenal and Man City have also been linked with him.
On the other hand, Arsenal are believed to be looking to sign Bruno Guimaraes as well. Newcastle United have turned down a £55 million approach so far.
