NafisaElliot Anderson has proven to be a fantastic addition to Nottingham Forest, but his move from Newcastle United nearly collapsed before it was finalized.
The midfielder made the switch during the summer transfer window, a deal largely influenced by Newcastle’s need to comply with PSR regulations. Anderson himself admitted he hadn’t anticipated leaving St. James’ Park, having just begun to establish himself in the first team. However, Evangelos Marinakis saw an opportunity and acted swiftly to bring him to the City Ground.
Since then, Anderson has flourished, featuring in all 25 Premier League matches this season while contributing a goal and five assists. His performances have even led to calls from Dion Dublin for an England call-up—praise that seems justified given how chaotic the negotiations between Forest and Newcastle were.
Anderson’s Transfer to Nottingham Forest Almost Fell Apart
Anderson was immediately impressed by the composed demeanor of Nuno Espírito Santo upon joining Forest, but the same could not be said for the tense transfer discussions that preceded his arrival. With Newcastle needing to finalize the deal before the PSR deadline in June, talks grew increasingly frantic as time ran out.
A report from The Athletic detailed just how close Anderson was to staying at Newcastle, revealing that the move was at serious risk of collapse with only hours remaining before the deadline.
The report stated: *“Minutes before the deadline, there was a concrete possibility that the deal would fall through.
‘Conversations were held at ownership level to hasten the process, with Jamie Reuben and Evangelos Marinakis locked in discussions, alongside Newcastle CEO Darren Eales and Anderson’s agent, David Manasseh.
“Newcastle had initially wanted [Anthony] Elanga to go the other way as part of the deal, but Forest were reluctant to sell — a decision justified by the winger’s excellent season — and the two sides could not agree a fee. Instead, Newcastle had to settle for [Odysseas] Vlachodimos, having held far less of an interest in the goalkeeper.”*
Newcastle had been eyeing Elanga throughout the transfer window, so Forest managing to keep him was already a win for Marinakis. However, persuading the Magpies to accept Vlachodimos instead was an even more impressive piece of business, ensuring that the Anderson deal went through.
Losing Anderson was a significant blow for Newcastle, but the situation has been made worse by Vlachodimos’ struggles since arriving at St. James’ Park.
Odysseas Vlachodimos’ Difficult Spell at Newcastle
Vlachodimos was never a regular starter at Forest, so offloading him in exchange for Anderson was a logical move for Marinakis. The deal has since looked even better for Forest, given how the Greek goalkeeper has fared at Newcastle.
Reports in August suggested Vlachodimos might leave on loan, but that never materialized. Since his £20m transfer, he has made just one appearance—forcing Newcastle fans to question the deal.
His sole outing came in a Carabao Cup match against AFC Wimbledon, only made possible due to an injury to Martin Dúbravka. While he earned a 6/10 rating from local media for a steady performance, it wasn’t enough to convince Eddie Howe that he could challenge Dúbravka or Nick Pope for a starting spot.
In fact, rather than moving on, Dúbravka has since signed a new contract with Newcastle, further limiting Vlachodimos’ chances of breaking into the team.
As Forest prepare to face Newcastle on Sunday, Anderson will return to St. James’ Park as a key player for his new club. Meanwhile, the man who moved in the opposite direction is unlikely to make an appearance at all.
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