Manchester City has officially signed Netherlands international Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan for £46.5m on a five-year deal, as Pep Guardiola strengthens his midfield ahead of the Club World Cup
Manchester City Reijnders has become a reality, as the Premier League giants confirmed the signing of AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders for an initial fee of £46.5 million on a five-year contract.
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The Netherlands international marks Pep Guardiola’s fourth summer signing, following the arrivals of Rayan Ait-Nouri, Marcus Bettinelli, and Rayan Cherki.
Reijnders, 26, was secured in time to be eligible for this month’s Club World Cup in America and could make his debut on June 18 against Wydad FC.
“I am ecstatic to be signing for Manchester City,” Reijnders stated. “City are one of the biggest teams in the world, with the best coach, world-class players and outstanding facilities. Under Pep Guardiola, City have won so many titles and I want to help keep that going with a lot more success in the coming years.”
The midfielder has earned 23 caps for the Netherlands but was an unused substitute during their recent 8-0 thrashing of Malta.
Last season, he showcased his prowess by scoring 15 goals in 54 appearances across all competitions for Milan, earning him the title of Serie A’s Midfielder of the Season.
With Kevin de Bruyne departing the club, Reijnders’ acquisition will significantly strengthen City’s central midfield, a key area for Guardiola as they aim to improve on their third-placed Premier League finish from the previous season.
Squad Boost for Club World Cup
Manchester City has emphatically answered questions about how seriously teams would approach the expanded Club World Cup.
The rapid influx of new signings demonstrates their intent to bolster a squad that will now aim for a deep run in the tournament in the United States.
Following De Bruyne’s departure and the void left in attacking midfield, City had explored a deal for Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz but ultimately decided against pursuing it.
Instead, they reinforced their squad with the signings of midfielder Reijnders, Cherki, and left-back Ait-Nouri for a combined total of around £108 million, a figure notably less than the reported €150 million (£127 million) asking price for the Germany international.
All three, along with new goalkeeper Bettinelli, are available for selection for the Club World Cup, with City set to face Moroccan side Wydad AC in Philadelphia on June 18.
City are one of the biggest teams in the world, with the best coach, world-class players and outstanding facilities. Under Pep Guardiola, City have won so many titles and I want to help keep that going with a lot more success in the coming years.
‘He will love working with Guardiola’
Reijnders joins City during a period that feels more like a revolution than a mere renewal at the Etihad. With potential departures for midfielders Kalvin Phillips, James McAtee, and Jack Grealish, as well as defender Kyle Walker, the squad’s composition is undergoing significant changes.
The futures of established players like Ederson, Stefan Ortega, Nathan Ake, and John Stones have also been subjects of media speculation.
Guardiola’s tactical considerations will undoubtedly include finding the right time to replace ageing stars such as Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva, and to compensate for the injured Mateo Kovacic in City’s midfield.
Despite the £50 million acquisition of Nico Gonzalez in February, the lack of consistent running power and physicality in City’s engine room was exposed last season, contributing to their failure to win a major trophy for the first time in eight years.
Reijnders, who turns 27 in July, is viewed as the player to help alter this dynamic. A powerful box-to-box midfielder, he concluded last season with 10 goals and four assists in Serie A.
Only one player in his position, Napoli’s Scott McTominay (16), had more goal involvements.
His performances were widely considered one of the few positives in a disappointing season for Milan, which saw them finish eighth in Serie A and miss out on European qualification.
Reijnders was ranked ninth for forward passes in Italy’s top flight last term and was fifth for through balls and carrying the ball.
He also ranked seventh overall for carries of more than 10m in Serie A last season. Significantly, Reijnders, who joined AC Milan for approximately £21 million in 2023, is capable of performing across the pitch—an asset that could be crucial in Guardiola’s transitional play.
He particularly excels at enhancing the performance of attacking players around him, being involved in an unrivalled 205 passages of play that culminated in a shot attempt in Serie A last season, the most of any player.
Reijnders also ranked second among all Serie A players for secondary chances created (49), demonstrating his ability to put teammates in prime positions to create scoring opportunities.
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Italian football journalist Daniele Verri commented, “He will slot in very well at City, he runs a lot, he’s very willing to improve and he will love working with Guardiola. He improved a lot since his first season at AC Milan.”
