Manchester City have completed their first major swoop of the summer, agreeing a £46.3 million (€55m) deal with AC Milan for Dutch midfield maestro Tijjani Reijnders. The 26-year-old is expected to undergo his medical on Sunday and sign a five-year deal that’ll keep him in sky blue until 2030.
Reijnders was a standout performer in an otherwise forgettable season for Milan, where the Rossoneri limped to an eighth-place finish in Serie A—good for… absolutely nothing in Europe. But Tijjani shone through the gloom, racking up a league-high goal-and-assist tally among midfielders with 15 goals to his name. Pep Guardiola, who’s not known for shopping on a whim, clearly saw enough to place his midfield rebuild on the broad shoulders of the Netherlands international.
Bye Bye, De Bruyne? Reijnders Steps into Big Boots at the Etihad
With Kevin De Bruyne officially waving goodbye to the Etihad (and possibly hello to the Saudi Pro League’s tax-free hugs), City fans were left wondering who would pick up the creative baton. Enter Reijnders, the versatile, high-octane Dutchman ready to bring his Serie A swagger to Manchester.
Known for his box-to-box presence, tactical intelligence, and eye for a killer pass, Reijnders isn’t just here to make up numbers. Sources suggest Guardiola sees him as the new heartbeat of City’s midfield—like Ilkay Gündoğan, only taller and with more TikTok fans. With Reijnders in and De Bruyne out, City’s engine room is getting a full oil change.
Cherki and Ait Nouri: Double Trouble Still on the Radar
Reijnders may be the first cab off the summer rank, but City’s shopping list still runs deep. Lyon’s prodigious playmaker Rayan Cherki and Wolves’ dynamic full-back Rayan Aït-Nouri are both high on the Etihad radar.
Cherki lit up Ligue 1 with 12 goals and a staggering 20 assists in 44 appearances this season. Meanwhile, Ait Nouri, who’s valued at a muscular £50m, continues to impress in both defensive duties and late-surge overlaps. He’s currently on international duty with Algeria, but City are hoping to get something done before the FIFA Club World Cup’s early window closes on June 10. If not, there’s always the second registration period from June 27—because nothing says “urgent” like FIFA bureaucracy.
Tijjani Reijiners at Milan: The Lone Bright Spot in the Rossoneri Gloom
Signed from AZ Alkmaar in 2023, Reijnders was Milan’s one-man rescue boat in a season where the club sank faster than a Neapolitan pizza in a rainstorm. While veterans stuttered and youngsters flailed, Reijnders went about his business with steely precision, popping up with goals, assists, and relentless forward runs.
Despite the chaos around him, his stats did the talking: most goal contributions by a midfielder, highest pass completion in the final third, and an uncanny knack for arriving late into the box. Now, Milan fans are mourning the departure of one of their few consistent performers—while City fans are already brushing the dust off their No. 8 shirts.
Khaldoon’s Confession: ‘We Should Have Been More Aggressive’
Club chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak wasn’t shy about pointing fingers—mainly at himself—in his annual post-season confessional. “We didn’t end up anywhere near achieving our goals,” he admitted. “We probably should have been more aggressive last summer.”
Indeed, City’s 2024/25 campaign was uncharacteristically barren. No Premier League title, no Champions League, not even an FA Cup consolation prize. It was Pep’s worst trophy return since his first season. Al Mubarak admitted the January transfer window had to be used more reactively than usual, and said lessons had been learned. Judging by the early Reijnders deal, it seems they’ve already turned those lessons into action—and possibly receipts.
Midfield Reset: Why Reijnders Could Be Guardiola’s Next Masterstroke
So, what exactly does Reijnders bring that Pep’s current crop doesn’t? According to those who’ve coached him, the answer is twofold: tactical adaptability and relentless drive. “He’s got the intelligence to play as a deep-lying playmaker and the stamina to push into the final third,” said one former AZ coach. “He reads the game two passes ahead.”
With City’s midfield losing the veteran control of De Bruyne and possibly Bernardo Silva, Reijnders could form a new axis with Rodri and Mateo Kovačić. His vertical style fits perfectly into Guardiola’s evolving system—part Total Football, part Tiki-Taka, part intergalactic chess match. And at just 26, he’s entering his prime. City fans might not know him now—but come October, they’ll be chanting his name in Dutch.
Club World Cup Countdown: Pep’s Squad Building on a Clock
The Club World Cup in the USA is just around the corner, and City open their account on June 18 against Moroccan champions Wydad Casablanca. The early registration window for the competition closes June 10, but FIFA (being FIFA) allows a second bite at the squad-list cherry from June 27 to July 3.
The idea is to have the squad sharpened and firing before that opening game, and Reijnders looks like the first piece of that puzzle. If City can complete deals for Cherki and Ait Nouri before the second registration window, Pep might just head to the States with a rebuilt team—and perhaps, a point to prove.
