Ross Wilson knows Elliot Anderson very well, and that knowledge is now causing mixed feelings among Newcastle United supporters. What once looked like a smart piece of business for Nottingham Forest has turned into a painful reminder of what Newcastle may have lost, especially now that Wilson is sitting on the other side of the table as the Magpies’ sporting director.
Back in 2024, Newcastle were under serious pressure. Financial rules were tightening, and the club needed to raise money quickly to avoid the threat of a points deduction. In that moment, difficult decisions had to be made. One of them was allowing academy graduate Elliot Anderson to leave the club in a deal worth £35 million. Nottingham Forest were the buyers, and Ross Wilson was a key figure behind the move at the City Ground.
At the time, Wilson knew exactly what he was doing. Anderson was highly rated, but Newcastle needed cash fast. Forest also sent goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos the other way in a deal valued at £20 million, making the numbers work neatly for both sides. For Forest, it was a chance to secure a young, homegrown midfielder with huge potential. For Newcastle, it was a painful sacrifice made under pressure.
Eighteen months later, the picture looks very different. Anderson has gone from promising talent to established Premier League performer. He is now one of Nottingham Forest’s most important players and has broken into the England setup, something many believed he was capable of, but perhaps not so quickly. Meanwhile, Ross Wilson has returned to Newcastle, this time as sporting director, and is now tasked with building a competitive squad under Eddie Howe.
When Wilson first spoke about Anderson after completing the deal for Forest, his confidence was obvious. He talked about excitement, belief, and the sense that Anderson would thrive in the Premier League. Those words have aged well. Anderson has not only thrived, he has accelerated his development and shown maturity beyond his years.
Now, with Wilson at Newcastle, the conversation has shifted. Questions are being asked about whether Anderson could one day return to St James’ Park. Eddie Howe has been honest. He has admitted he would love to have the midfielder back in black and white. Howe values players who understand the club, the city, and the culture, and Anderson ticks every one of those boxes.
But wanting something and being able to make it happen are very different things. Anderson’s rise has attracted attention from some of the biggest clubs in the country, including Manchester City. His value has soared, and any deal to bring him back would now require a huge fee. That reality alone could put Newcastle at a disadvantage.
When Wilson was asked directly about Anderson after his return to Newcastle, he offered a short but telling response. With a smile, he simply said, “I like him a lot.” It was playful, but it also said everything. Wilson knows Anderson’s quality. He knows how good he can be. And he knows just how difficult it would be to undo a deal that made perfect sense at the time.
This situation also highlights a bigger issue that Newcastle faced when selling Anderson. Because the club needed immediate funds, they focused on securing the highest possible upfront fee. There was no room to negotiate future protections. No sell-on clause. No buy-back option. No safety net at all. Once Anderson left, he was gone for good in contractual terms.
Other clubs have mastered the art of protecting themselves in these situations. Chelsea and Manchester City, in particular, have earned millions through clever clauses inserted into player sales. Newcastle themselves felt the sting of this recently when Manchester City were able to re-sign goalkeeper James Trafford from Burnley at a reduced cost due to clauses written into his original deal.
Newcastle had no such luxury with Anderson. The urgency of their financial situation meant compromise. The £35 million fee helped steady the ship, but it came at a long-term cost. If Forest sell Anderson for a huge profit in the future, Newcastle will not benefit at all, despite having developed him from a young age.
If Newcastle decide they want Anderson back, they will have to enter the open market like everyone else. There will be no discount, no advantage, and no contractual leverage. The only thing they can offer is emotion. Anderson’s connection to the club. His history. The pull of returning home. Sometimes that matters, but in modern football, money usually speaks louder.
Ross Wilson understands all of this better than anyone. He was there when the deal was made. He knows why it happened. And now, as he prepares for his first transfer windows at Newcastle, he must live with the consequences of that decision. It is not a mistake, but it is a reminder of how quickly circumstances can change in football.
For Newcastle fans, it is frustrating. Seeing a homegrown talent flourish elsewhere always hurts, especially when he is the type of player the team could desperately use. For Wilson and Howe, it is a challenge they must accept as they look forward rather than back.
The Anderson story is not finished, but for now, it stands as a lesson. Timing matters. Pressure changes decisions. And sometimes, the right deal at the wrong moment can come back to haunt you.
