Anthony Elanga has left Manchester United to join Nottingham Forest in a £15million deal.
The 21-year-old winger has signed a five-year deal at the City Ground and becomes boss Steve Cooper‘s second summer signing after Ola Aina joined on a free transfer last week.
Elanga had fallen out of favour under Erik ten Hag but Forest fought off competition from Everton to secure him, with Elanga thought to have been swayed by the chance to play under Cooper.
He said: ‘It’s a pleasure to be here. It’s a proud moment, not only for me, but for my family as well.
‘There are so many players and staff that have played a major role in helping to make those dreams become a reality and supported me into developing into the man that I am today. I will be forever grateful to each and every one of you.
‘From the moment that I watched a game from the Stretford End as a young boy I’ve known that United fans are special. We’ll always have ‘Rhythm is a dancer’. It meant the world to me and my family every time that we heard that chant. There are not enough words to properly thank you for the unbelievable support.
‘It is the right time now for the perfect next step in my career. I’m someone who lives for football and I need to be on the pitch every week doing what I love.
‘I’m 100% ready to get started, excited for what comes next and as determined as ever to succeed! Thank you Manchester United.’
Sweden international Elanga had interest from Everton, Red Bull Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund, but has opted to stay in the Premier League and continue his progress having broken into United’s first team under former boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
He made a total of 55 appearances at Old Trafford, scoring four times.
‘It’s the perfect next step for me in my career, it’s a big step and I’m really looking forward to playing in front of the Forest fans at The City Ground.
‘I had interest from elsewhere, but for me, Nottingham Forest feels like the perfect place.’
‘I’ve been here with United, and from the minute I stepped out for the warm-up, I could hear them from the changing room.
‘It’s a special place, but being here with Forest, I feel like it will be even more special.
‘I’m really ready for the challenge and I just want to embrace everything and get to work.’
The club’s Chief Football Officer Ross Wilson added: ‘Anthony had a number of excellent options in front of him to choose from so we are naturally delighted that from those he has chosen to become a Nottingham Forest player.
‘From the first meeting we had, he was so committed to all aspects of how he can continue to develop working with Steve on the pitch whilst he was also excited and embracing of the ambitions that Mr. Marinakis has for the football club.’
Bidding farewell to Elanga after leaving his boyhood club, United said they were ‘proud of the player and person you’ve become’.
The club said in a statement: ‘Anthony has been a fine role model and example for other members of the Academy, and leaves with our sincere best wishes for the future, after Forest won the race for his signature.
‘We would like to thank him for his service at United.
‘The transfer is for an undisclosed fee and we look forward to welcoming the winger back to Old Trafford, with his new team, on 26 August.’
Elanga also paid tribute to United with a special post thanking them for their support on his journey so far.
‘Making my debut, playing over 50 times for the first team, scoring in the Champions League and winning a trophy for this incredible club…. If you told me that all of that would happen when I arrived in England at 11 years old I would have been buzzing,’ he said on social media.
‘There are so many players and staff that have played a major role in helping to make those dreams become a reality and supported me into developing into the man that I am today. I will be forever grateful to each and every one of you.
‘From the moment that I watched a game from the Stretford End as a young boy I’ve known that United fans are special. We’ll always have ‘Rhythm is a dancer’. It meant the world to me and my family every time that we heard that chant. There are not enough words to properly thank you for the unbelievable support.
‘It is the right time now for the perfect next step in my career. I’m someone who lives for football and I need to be on the pitch every week doing what I love.
‘I’m 100% ready to get started, excited for what comes next and as determined as ever to succeed! Thank you Manchester United.’
Sweden international Elanga had interest from Everton, Red Bull Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund, but has opted to stay in the Premier League and continue his progress having broken into United’s first team under former boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
He made a total of 55 appearances at Old Trafford, scoring four times.
Source: dailymail.co.uk
