Nottingham Forest just signed a 16-year-old Scottish midfielder named Boyd Fraser from Heart of Midlothian. In almost the same breath, the club sold midfielder Elliot Anderson to Manchester City for roughly £116 million.
The deal and why it matters beyond the pitch
Fraser’s contract runs until the summer of 2029, locking in a teenager for the better part of four years. The deal, reported around June 25, 2026, came after Nottingham Forest beat out a serious list of suitors: Celtic, Rangers, Tottenham, and Crystal Palace all wanted the young Scot.
The Anderson sale to Manchester City for £116 million proves the development thesis works. That’s a transfer fee that would rank among the largest in football history, and it came from a player Forest developed and showcased on the Premier League stage.
Scotland as the new talent pipeline
