Tijjani Reijnders prediction made by Hugo Viana as Man City confirm £46.5m signing from AC Milan

Manchester City have announced the signing of midfielder Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan.

The 26-year-old has put pen to paper on a five year contract until 2030 and he becomes Pep Guardiola’s fourth signing of the summer after left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri, goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli and attacker Rayan Cherki.

Man City are understood to have agreed an initial fee of €55m (£46.5m) to sign Reijnders, which could rise to around €70m (£59.2m) with add-ons.

Reijnders passed his medical on Sunday before returning to international duty and watching on as an unused substitute as the Netherlands thrashed Malta 8-0 in World Cup qualifying on Tuesday night.

All four of Man City’s new additions are now available to link up with Guardiola’s first-team squad at the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States later this month.

“I am ecstatic to be signing for Manchester City,” Reijnders told the club's official website. “City are one of the biggest teams in the world, with the best coach, world-class players and outstanding facilities. 

Viana expects Reijnders to “go from strength to strength” under Guardiola

“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.  

“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.  

“I am really looking forward to getting going, meeting the other players and showing the Manchester City fans what I can do.”

Director of football Hugo Viana added: “We are very happy that Tijjani has joined us, and we’re excited for him to join Pep’s squad.

“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.”

Man City add Serie A Midfielder of the Year to their ranks

Reijnders arrives at Man City after spending two full seasons with Milan, with an impressive 2024-25 campaign earning him the Serie A Midfielder of the Year award.

“It was a big honour, especially because we had a difficult season,” Reijnders said: “To still be crowned as the best midfielder was a really big honour and I was of course very happy with that prize.”

The box-to-box midfielder contributed with 15 goals and five assists in 54 appearances for Milan across all competitions last season, and adding goals to his game is something the Dutchman has consciously been worked on.

“I know as a midfielder it’s important to score goals as well,” he added. “Two years ago I didn’t score that many goals in a season and I was working on it that summer, looking at what I had to do better in front of the goal and this season it worked out.”

Reijnders, who began his senior career in his homeland with PEC Zwolle and AZ Alkmaar, will strengthen the centre of the pitch for a Man City side who has parted ways with club legend Kevin De Bruyne.

Man City will also be without Mateo Kovacic for up to three months after he recently underwent Achilles surgery, and Guardiola hopes that the addition of Reijnders will help his team improve on their third-placed Premier League finish last season.

Written by
Oliver Thomas