Manchester City have officially announced the signing of Dutch midfielder Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan for a reported fee of £46.3 million. The 26-year-old has signed a five-year contract with the club, solidifying his commitment to the Sky Blues until 2030. This move marks City's fourth signing of the summer transfer window, following the acquisitions of Rayan Aït-Nouri, Rayan Cherki, and Marcus Bettinelli.
Reijnders' arrival is particularly timely as Manchester City prepare to compete in the expanded FIFA Club World Cup 2025, scheduled to be held in the United States from June 14 to July 13. City secured their place in the tournament by winning the 2022/23 Champions League, and they are among the favorites to lift the trophy in the inaugural 32-team competition.
The Club World Cup 2025 will feature clubs from all six FIFA confederations, with Europe (UEFA) allocated 12 slots. Manchester City is one of two English teams participating, alongside Chelsea, who qualified by winning the 2021 Champions League. The tournament format will mirror the FIFA World Cup, with 32 teams divided into eight groups of four. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Round of 16, followed by single-match knockout ties leading to the final.
Manchester City has been drawn into Group G, where they will face Wydad AC (Morocco), Al Ain FC (United Arab Emirates), and Juventus (Italy). Their group stage schedule includes matches on June 18 against Wydad, June 23 against Al Ain, and June 26 against Juventus. To progress to the knockout stage, City must finish in the top two of their group.
Reijnders' versatility and dynamism are expected to bolster City's midfield options. He is known for his energy, composure, and creativity, and his ability to play in both attacking and defensive roles will provide Pep Guardiola with tactical flexibility. In the 2024/25 season, Reijnders earned the distinction of being named Serie A's Best Midfielder, having scored 15 goals in 54 games.
Reijnders expressed his excitement about joining Manchester City, stating, "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 also acknowledged the influence of Dutch players in the Premier League, saying, "It is also a dream come true to play in the Premier League. This league has seen many of the best Dutch players perform through the years and it's an inspiration to follow in their footsteps."
City's Director of Football, Hugo Viana, praised Reijnders' experience and skillset, noting, "He arrives here with extensive top-level experience in Europe both at club level as well as on the international stage with the Netherlands. Tijjani adds extra energy, composure and creativity to our midfield and working with Pep and our coaches will only see him go from strength to strength."
The signing of Tijjani Reijnders is seen as a strategic move by Manchester City to strengthen their squad ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 and the upcoming 2025/26 Premier League season. His addition is expected to provide a fresh impetus to the team's midfield, offering both creativity and defensive stability as they aim to compete for major honors on both domestic and international fronts.
