Newcastle United have taken another big step forward behind the scenes by appointing Ross Wilson as their new sporting director, a move that has drawn plenty of attention due to his previous role at Nottingham Forest the same club that signed Elliot Anderson from the Magpies last year.
Wilson, who played a key part in that transfer, now returns to St James’ Park to take charge of the club’s long-term sporting vision, recruitment, and player development.
The timing of Wilson’s arrival is particularly interesting. Newcastle have just come off a turbulent summer window that saw major changes to their squad.
While the club celebrated exciting late additions like Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa, they also suffered the high-profile departure of Alexander Isak, who left for a British record fee. With those challenges behind them, Wilson’s job will be to strengthen the club’s recruitment structure and help maintain stability as Newcastle continue to push for consistent European qualification.
Wilson’s reputation grew during his spell at Nottingham Forest, where he demonstrated a keen eye for talent and a strategic approach to transfers.
One of his most notable moves came when he signed Antony Elanga and later sold him to Newcastle for a substantial profit, a move that displayed his business acumen and understanding of player value.
However, perhaps his biggest success story came in the form of Elliot Anderson a product of Newcastle’s academy who was forced to leave his boyhood club due to financial fair play constraints.
Anderson’s £35 million switch to Forest was largely seen as a financial necessity for Newcastle at the time. The club had little choice but to part ways with the promising midfielder to comply with Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), even though his departure was met with disappointment among fans and staff alike.
The talented 22-year-old quickly established himself as one of Forest’s standout performers, earning rave reviews for his composure, creativity, and work rate.
His consistent displays have not only made him a key player at the City Ground but also pushed him into contention for an England call-up, while attracting interest from several top Premier League clubs.
When Wilson first signed Anderson at Forest, he knew exactly what kind of player he was getting. Speaking at the time of the transfer, he said: “We are all delighted to welcome Elliot to Nottingham Forest and pleased that he has chosen to continue to develop his talent with us in the Premier League. We are sure he will thrive in a Forest shirt, as other players in his age profile have done. As soon as the opportunity arose for him to potentially join, it was something we were all excited to make happen.”
Now, in a twist of fate, Wilson finds himself back at Newcastle potentially with the task of helping the club bring Anderson home. With the midfielder’s reputation soaring and his market value higher than ever, any deal would not come cheap.
Still, Newcastle’s hierarchy are believed to be open to exploring ways to re-sign him in the near future. Manager Eddie Howe has already spoken openly about how difficult it was to let Anderson go, admitting that the decision has never sat well with him.
In a recent interview, Howe expressed his lingering regret over the transfer: “I don’t know if the move will happen, but certainly from my perspective I would love him to come back. It is very regretful that a player from the academy who had given so much and the club had given so much to—was not able to be utilised here. It was a sale we had no choice but to make, but it didn’t sit right with me then, and it doesn’t sit right with me today.”
Howe’s comments reflect the emotional connection the club still feels toward Anderson, whose journey from the academy to the first team had symbolized Newcastle’s commitment to youth development.
His departure was a painful reminder of the financial realities even ambitious clubs face under PSR regulations. However, with Wilson’s return, there is renewed optimism that Newcastle might find a way to reunite with the midfielder in the future.
For now, Wilson’s focus will be on refining Newcastle’s recruitment network, developing young talent, and ensuring the club remains competitive both domestically and in Europe.
His experience at Forest where he turned undervalued players into profitable assets could be crucial as Newcastle seek to balance ambition with sustainability.
If he can help engineer a reunion with Elliot Anderson along the way, it would be a poetic full circle for both player and club. After all, Anderson’s story began at St James’ Park and for many fans, it feels only right that it should eventually lead him back there.
