‘Incomprehensible’ – Simon Jordan stunned by Elliot Anderson information with Newcastle set to miss out

Newcastle have been told they made a major oversight when they sold Elliot Anderson.

Anderson is poised to complete a big-money move from Nottingham Forest to Manchester City, but the Magpies might not make anything from the deal for their former midfielder.

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That’s because it’s been reported Newcastle did not insert a sell-on clause when they sold Anderson to Forest two years ago.

Newcastle ‘defy conventional wisdom’

Speaking on talkSPORT’s White and Jordan, Jordan was astonished by the news, revealed by talkSPORT’s Alex Crook.

Ex-Crystal Palace chairman Jordan said: “I cannot believe Newcastle do not have a sell-on. It defies conventional wisdom.

“If they don’t have a sell-on, there’s something paradoxically wrong with every aspect of it.

“It’s incomprehensible: a young player goes out of a football club, who you didn’t want to leave, and you would have no commercial nous to put at least a 10 per cent, 15 per cent sell-on.”

Man City claim the agreed fee for Anderson is £116m, which would be a record for a British player.

It would also smash the eight-time Premier League champion’s previous transfer record: £100m to sign Jack Grealish from Aston Villa in 2021.

Newcastle sold Anderson to Forest for £35m; as such, they could have benefitted from a decent windfall with a sell-on clause.

Even if the sell-on only applied to the profit Forest made on Anderson, Newcastle would still pocket £8.1m at 10 per cent or £12.15m at 15 per cent.

Anderson is currently away with England at the World Cup, where he has started all three games to help Thomas Tuchel’s side reach the Round of 32 as Group I winners after beating Panama 2-0 on Saturday, setting up a clash with DR Congo on Wednesday.

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One of the first names on the England team sheet, the 22-year-old set up Jude Bellingham in the Three Lions’ opening 4-2 win over Croatia.

Anderson’s rapid rise

Born in nearby Whitley Bay, Anderson joined Newcastle at the age of eight – having previously played for the famed Wallsend Boys Club – and went on to make 55 senior appearances for the Magpies.

He’s gone from strength to strength since moving to Forest, missing only one Premier League game in his two campaigns at the City Ground and helping the two-time European champions to the semi-finals of last season’s Europa League.

Of English and Scottish descent, Anderson represented Scotland up to Under-21 level before switching his allegiance to England.

Called up for the first time by Tuchel last August, he made his senior international debut in a World Cup qualifier against Andorra and has gone on to earn 12 caps so far.

Earlier in 2025, he starred in England’s Under-21 Euro triumph, being named in the team of the tournament.