He joined the club in the summer of 2023.
Nottingham Forest aren’t afraid to make a few moves, as evidenced by their transfer window activity since their promotion back to the Premier League in May 2022.
Since defeating Huddersfield Town at Wembley, the Reds have made 34 new signings, with owner Evangelos Marinakis investing more than £200 million in new players, establishing them as a modern-day Premier League powerhouse.
Players like as Taiwo Awoniyi, Morgan Gibbs-White, and Ibrahim Sangare have all broken Forest’s transfer record in the last two years, demonstrating the owner’s desire to move the club ahead.
Forest’s additions have not all been successful, with players such as Emmanuel Dennis and Jonjo Shelvey entering for high prices and wages but failing to deliver value for money – their pair are currently out on loan away from the City Ground.
However, one player has shown to be an excellent investment since joining the team in July 2023 as a replacement for a former fan favorite.
How much did Nottingham Forest pay for Anthony Elanga
The Reds paid a reported £15 million to buy winger Anthony Elanga, who replaced Brennan Johnson when the Forest academy graduate joined another Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur for £47.5 million.
Over six months after the transfer, it appears that the Reds have made an astute decision for a youngster who is only 21, with Jamie Redknapp calling the move a “bargain”.
He has already made 13 appearances for Sweden, and the winger is now having his greatest season in England’s top flight. Elanga has five goals and seven assists in 24 Premier League matches at the City Ground.
The former Manchester United youth had an immediate impression under then-manager Steve Cooper in the 2-1 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates, with the Swede’s explosive run setting up Awoniyi to fire past Aaron Ramsdale.
Since his debut, the winger has grown in stature, excelling against teams like Chelsea, Newcastle United, and Luton Town by scoring or assisting in each of those games.
Anthony Elanga’s market value by 2024
Elanga has been crucial for Forest’s aspirations to keep their top-flight status for the third consecutive season, with the winger the only Reds player to achieve double figures in combined goals and assists.
He has also averaged 0.4 assists per 90 minutes in the Premier League this season, placing him in the top 9% of all attackers in Europe’s top five leagues. The 21-year-old has excelled with his direct running, averaging 3.8 progressive carries per game, the highest of anyone on the Forest roster.
His performances on Trentside have increased his market value to £26 million, according to CIES Football Observatory–a amount higher than striker Awoniyi’s, who is valued at roughly £17 million, the fee paid by the club for him in the summer of 2022.
Erik ten Hag’s team appear to have lost a trick with their former player, as the teenager has proven himself to be a fantastic Premier League footballer, with the Swede contributing more goals than £86 million winger Antony, who has yet to score or assist in the league this season.
Forest has discovered that the Red Devils’ waste is actually their treasure.
