Manchester City’s recruitment often functions like an oil painting in progress – deliberate, masterful, and occasionally surprising in its brush strokes. The latest addition could be AC Milan’s Tijjani Reijnders, a player who, until recently, looked firmly entrenched at San Siro. Yet, as Football Italia reports, Reijnders is “only a few steps away from becoming a new Manchester City player,” despite penning a contract extension until 2030 earlier this year.
That timeline, while seemingly secure on paper, has proven elastic. The allure of Pep Guardiola’s ecosystem, paired with the financial reality of missing out on European competition for Milan, seems to have shifted priorities quickly. Guardiola, keen to integrate the Dutch midfielder ahead of the Club World Cup, reportedly made Reijnders’ acquisition a specific request.
What Reijnders Brings to City
A box-to-box profile with a slick first touch and spatial awareness that thrives in Guardiola’s patterns, Reijnders is hardly a bolt from the blue. He scored in Serie A as recently as March and was one of Milan’s standout performers in a difficult season. He’s able to both evade pressure and progress play vertically, making him an ideal candidate to rejuvenate a midfield that saw Kevin De Bruyne sidelined for long stretches and where Mateo Kovačić offered mixed returns.
It’s also a deal underpinned by opportunism. City had a €60 million bid rejected in May, but a €75 million package including bonuses now looks like it will satisfy Milan’s demands. “With the addition of a few extra bonuses, Man City could seal a deal for Reijnders in the imminent future,” Football Italia reports.
Financial and Competitive Pull Proves Too Much
The fact that Milan extended Reijnders’ contract in March suggests the club saw him as a central figure moving forward. But without European football next season, their bargaining position has weakened. City, on the other hand, can offer him Champions League exposure and a significant bump from his current €3.5 million annual wage.
More crucially, this is City flexing their economic muscle without ever appearing extravagant. At €75 million, Reijnders represents a relatively calculated gamble in a hyper-inflated market, especially given his age profile and recent performances. The Dutchman fits into a squad built on versatility and tactical precision, offering Guardiola further permutations in a midfield already rich in nuance.
Our View – EPL Index Analysis
From a Manchester City supporter’s perspective, this move is both exciting and a little unexpected. Reijnders isn’t a household name for casual fans, but anyone watching Serie A or the Dutch national team would’ve noticed his growth. He glides through midfield phases, has a sharp pass on him, and carries himself like someone who belongs in elite company.
City have seen success by trusting Guardiola’s judgment in these sorts of signings – think Ilkay Gündoğan, Bernardo Silva, and Rodri. Reijnders could be the next in that line. His signing doesn’t just patch a gap – it suggests long-term planning, especially with KDB leaving.
Yes, €75 million is a lot. But it’s City, and if the club believe Reijnders is the right fit, then you trust that. Especially when Milan are slipping out of continental contention and we’re going for everything again.
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