Manchester City have officially announced the signing of Dutch midfielder Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan for an initial fee of £46.5m. The 26-year-old has agreed to a five-year deal at the Etihad Stadium, becoming Pep Guardiola’s fourth signing of the summer following the arrivals of Rayan Ait-Nouri, Marcus Bettinelli and Rayan Cherki.
Reijnders joins in time to be eligible for City’s Club World Cup campaign in the United States, with a possible debut lined up for 18 June against Moroccan side Wydad AC.
“I am ecstatic to be signing for Manchester City,” Reijnders said after completing the move. “City are one of the biggest clubs in the world, with the best coach, world-class players, and fantastic facilities. Under Pep Guardiola, City have won so many trophies, and I want to help continue that success in the years to come.”
The Netherlands international, who has 23 caps for his country, enjoyed an impressive season at Milan, scoring 15 goals in 54 appearances across all competitions and earning Serie A’s Midfielder of the Season award. However, he was an unused substitute in the Netherlands’ 8-0 win over Malta earlier this week.
With Kevin De Bruyne departing the club, Reijnders strengthens Guardiola’s midfield options as City aim to improve on last season’s third-place Premier League finish.
City Strengthen Ahead of Club World Cup
City’s approach to the expanded Club World Cup has been clear, with significant investment to bolster their squad ahead of the tournament. Rather than pursuing Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz—who carried a hefty €150m (£127m) price tag—City have opted for a more balanced approach, spending around £108m on Reijnders, Cherki, and Ait-Nouri, alongside goalkeeper Bettinelli.
All four new arrivals will be available for City’s opening match of the Club World Cup in Philadelphia on 18 June.
Reijnders Brings Energy, Creativity and Versatility
Reijnders arrives during what feels like a period of transition at the Etihad. Several established stars including Kalvin Phillips, Jack Grealish, James McAtee, and Kyle Walker are being linked with moves away, while the futures of Ederson, Stefan Ortega, Nathan Ake, and John Stones remain uncertain.
Guardiola is also tasked with refreshing an ageing midfield core that has seen Ilkay Gundogan depart, Bernardo Silva’s long-term future in doubt, and Mateo Kovacic recovering from surgery.
Despite the £50m signing of Nico Gonzalez in February, City struggled last season with a lack of energy and physical presence in midfield. Reijnders is expected to bring exactly that.
The powerful box-to-box midfielder combines relentless running with technical quality, ending last season with 10 goals and 4 assists in Serie A. Only Napoli’s Scott McTominay registered more goal involvements among midfielders.
Even in a disappointing season for Milan — who finished eighth and missed out on European football — Reijnders stood out statistically. He ranked ninth for forward passes, fifth for through balls and carries, and seventh for long-distance dribbles.
His ability to contribute in build-up play and help unlock defenses was evident in the 205 attacking sequences he was involved in that led to a shot — the highest in Serie A last term.
“Tijjani will slot in very well at City,” said Italian football journalist Daniele Verri. “He runs tirelessly, is eager to improve, and will thrive under Guardiola’s coaching. He has developed hugely since his first season at Milan.”
Reijnders, who joined Milan from AZ Alkmaar for around £21m in 2023, now takes the next step in his career as part of Guardiola’s evolving City project.
