Manchester City have once again moved early and decisively in the transfer market. This time, the Premier League champions are reinforcing their midfield with the signing of Dutch international Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan in a deal worth €70 million (£58.9m) — a move confirmed by none other than transfer insider Fabrizio Romano.
As clubs scramble to find the right fit in a chaotic window, City are already laying the foundations for the future — and they’re doing it the way they always do: under the radar, with precision.
> “Manchester City have reached full agreement to sign Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan. Total package around €70m. Personal terms agreed — here we go.”
— @FabrizioRomano
Smart Business, the City Way
This signing isn’t just about filling a gap — it’s about being ahead of the curve. Kevin De Bruyne, while still pulling strings in City’s midfield, is entering the final phase of his career. His contract expires next summer, and while he remains pivotal, succession planning is underway. At the same time, Bernardo Silva continues to draw interest from Barcelona, though no deal has materialized.
For a club that never waits for a crisis to start planning, this move fits the pattern. Reijnders isn’t a panic buy. He’s another piece in the long-term puzzle.
Who is Tijjani Reijnders?
The 25-year-old Dutchman made his name at AZ Alkmaar before making the jump to AC Milan in the summer of 2023. In his debut Serie A season, he made 34 league appearances, scored four goals, and quietly became one of the most consistent midfielders in Italy.
Reijnders won’t dominate highlights, but his intelligence—threading passes, exploiting half-spaces—makes him a Guardiola prototype. His game is about subtle brilliance: moving between the lines, threading passes through tight spaces, and maintaining tempo under pressure. His spatial awareness and calm under the press make him particularly suited for a possession-heavy team like City.
At Milan, Stefano Pioli often used him as a box-to-box presence. His energy allowed him to shuttle between defense and attack with minimal fuss, and while he’s not prolific, his ability to arrive in the right spaces made him an asset in transition play.
Why Reijnders, and Why Now?
City aren’t just replacing players — they’re evolving the way they play. And Reijnders fits the mold of what Guardiola looks for in a modern midfielder. He’s tactically fluid, comfortable in tight pockets, and quick to recover shape when possession is lost.
Instead of relying on physicality, Reijnders reads the game a step ahead. His ability to receive the ball under pressure and immediately play forward makes him a natural fit in Guardiola’s build-up schemes. In that sense, he brings some of the same qualities İlkay Gündoğan once offered — control, timing, and positional flexibility — though with a slightly more vertical running style.
He’s not being signed to replace De Bruyne or Bernardo Silva directly, but rather to complement and eventually succeed them. Guardiola values players who can morph into multiple roles, and Reijnders brings that tactical elasticity without needing months of adaptation.
A Midfield in Transition
City’s midfield is clearly entering a new cycle. Last summer’s arrivals — Mateo Kovačić, Matheus Nunes — brought depth, but the search for a long-term conductor has continued. While earlier reports linked City to players like Nico González per The Athletic, it turns out those were wide of the mark — González remains at Fiorentina, not Porto.
Reijnders, however, checks more boxes. His durability and comfort under pressure (34 Serie A starts last term) make him a low-risk addition. He’s proven he can handle the rigors of a top league, and his tactical understanding allows him to adapt quickly to a system as demanding as City’s.
This move also allows Phil Foden more freedom to push forward, potentially carving out a permanent role as City’s new advanced playmaker — especially as De Bruyne's minutes are managed more carefully.
Interest From Elsewhere?
It wasn’t just City sniffing around. Earlier in the year, both Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain had tracked Reijnders’ progress in Milan. PSG were eyeing him as a possible successor to Marco Verratti, while Bayern reportedly considered him as part of their midfield rebuild.
But as has so often been the case in recent years, City moved faster and with more conviction. The offer was clear, the role was defined, and Reijnders didn’t hesitate. He wanted to work under Guardiola — and Milan, facing Financial Fair Play constraints, were willing to cash in.
Milan’s Perspective: Why Sell?
For AC Milan, parting with Reijnders wasn’t easy, but it was a necessity. With FFP (Financial Fair Play) constraints looming, the club prioritized financial stability over retaining key players. Reijnders, despite his potential, was a high-value asset that could fetch the kind of funds Milan needed to strengthen other areas of the squad.
Final Word: The Next Quiet Masterpiece?
Tijjani Reijnders isn’t a flashy signing. He doesn’t come with the YouTube compilations or the headline numbers. But for City, that’s often the point.
This is a club that thrives on function over flash. In Reijnders, they’ve added another mind to their midfield — someone who sees the game the way Guardiola wants it played. Someone who won’t need months to understand his role. Someone who, if things go to plan, will soon be doing the kind of work that makes the rest of the team shine.
And in a few months, if he’s purring through Champions League knockout rounds or dictating play at Anfield, no one will be surprised.
They’ll just say: “Classic City.”
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