The 26-year-old is set to become Pep Guardiola's first signing of the summer after two impressive seasons at AC Milan
Manchester City have a lot of work to do this summer. Their dramatic fall from grace over the course of the 2024-25 season saw them end the campaign without any major silverware for the first time since Pep Guardiola's debut year at the Etihad Stadium in 2016-17. They failed to reach even the last 16 of the Champions League and were 13 points adrift of Premier League winners Liverpool once all was said and done.
Seeing the writing was already on the wall midway through last season, City responded by spending £180 million ($243m) in the January transfer window on the likes of Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez and Abdukodir Khusanov. There are still, however, glaring holes in Guardiola's squad, and another massive outlay will likely be needed to ensure City are able to re-establish themselves at the top of the English and European game next season.
The brick in that rebuild looks set to arrive before City get their Club World Cup campaign under way after they agreed to pay an initial fee of just over £46m ($63m) to sign AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders. The Netherlands international was a bright light amid the Rossoneri darkness last season, and with Kevin De Bruyne already gone while doubts remain over the futures of Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva, Reijnders is being tipped to step into what is likely to be a new-look City midfield upon his arrival.
Getty Images Sport'Few details to be ironed out'
"Is it true that I have already agreed personally? There are still a few final details to be ironed out. It's a matter of waiting and seeing," Reijnders said when speaking to Voetbalzone and other Dutch media on Wednesday as the Netherlands prepare to begin their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign against Finland on Saturday.
"I can't say any more about it. I am still an AC Milan player and I have to respect that. I'm also waiting to see what the clubs will do."
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Despite Reijnders' reluctance to confirm his impending transfer, he was open to speaking out regarding how he might adapt to life at the Etihad.
Playing under Guardiola and learning from one of the game's greatest-ever coaches is something players around the world tend to relish, but there has been concern among fans that the Catalan can remove the freedom from certain individuals' games due to his relentless pursuit of perfection. Jack Grealish is regularly cited as an example of this, with the England midfielder having largely been a shadow of the thrilling Aston Villa player who took the Premier League by storm since his big-money switch to City in 2021.
"Am I afraid that the 'freedom' in my game will be lost under Guardiola? We'll have to wait and see if that happens," Reijnders says. "There's always room for development, in every respect, especially as a midfielder. There are so many things you can develop. I can become a more complete midfielder there, if the deal goes through."
Getty Images Sport'Modern midfielder'
In terms of his current playing style, Reijnders describes himself as a "box-to-box" player who is ideal for how the game is progressing through the mid-2020s.
"I think I'm a modern midfielder," he says. "And I'm always fit, which is also an advantage. Fortunately, I've always been fit so far and I hope to stay that way for as long as possible."
Getty ImagesAlways available
That fitness record will be music to Guardiola's ears within an era when players are picking up more and more injuries due to the increasing workload brought on by revamped, or in some cases completely new, competitions. Reijnders made 54 apperances for Milan last season, scoring 15 goals, and has played in all-but three of the Rossoneri's Serie A matches since arriving at San Siro in 2023, missing two due to suspension while he was an unused substitute in the other.
"How can I play so many games? Eating well, that's the secret. My mother's fried rice works wonders!" Reijnders laughs. "I listen carefully to my body and pay close attention to what I need before and after games. I hope that continues to work for as long as possible.
"Things were a bit more difficult for us at Milan this season, which may have made it a bit tougher mentally. I just always felt fit when I was in the starting line up, so I had no problems with that."
