Manchester City Sign New Midfielder

Manchester City have completed the signing of Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan in a £46.3m deal, handing Pep Guardiola one of Serie A’s most complete midfielders and signaling a new phase in City’s tactical evolution.

The 26-year-old Netherlands international, who bagged 15 goals last season and was named Serie A Midfielder of the Year, has signed a five-year deal and will immediately become part of Guardiola’s Club World Cup plans.

From Alkmaar to the Etihad

Reijnders’ football journey is as methodical as his playing style. The Dutchman, once a late bloomer at AZ Alkmaar, has risen steadily through hard work and tactical intelligence. He famously turned down Barcelona for Milan in 2023—not for romance, but for clarity of role.

Barcelona lacked a clear plan for him. Milan sold him a vision. That story feels incredibly relevant now as he joins Guardiola’s City, wrote Sky’s Adam Bate.

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At AZ, Reijnders initially struggled for minutes. But by 2021, following the departure of Teun Koopmeiners, he blossomed under coach Pascal Jansen.

“He came up to me and said, ‘Coach, I’ve played 50 per cent of the minutes, but I need more.’ He earned it. He matured and became a key piece of the puzzle,” said Jansen.

The Guardiola Blueprint: What Reijnders Offers

Guardiola’s midfield overhaul began with departures, Gundogan, and now Kevin De Bruyne, and continues with strategic additions. Reijnders appears to be the bridge between the past and future of City’s style.

He combines calm possession play, intelligent positioning, and off-the-ball dynamism. In Serie A 2024/25, Reijnders ranked top-20 in:

• Goals from open play
• Chances created
• Final third passes
• Dribbles completed
• Defensive interceptions

He’s a technical, creative player who scores and creates, but also tracks back,” said Michel Vonk, his former youth coach at AZ. “He has great drive to go forward with the ball, ideal for City’s transitional play.

Guardiola, who has leaned heavily on veterans like Rodri and Bernardo Silva, clearly sees Reijnders as a modernising force. He’s a natural successor in the No. 8/10 hybrid role once owned by De Bruyne.

Leadership and Mentality

Those who know Reijnders best speak highly of his character. Calm, intelligent, and family-grounded, he’s also expressive, his joy shows on the pitch.

The fun thing about Tijjani is that he’s always smiling. You can literally see it in his body language when he’s enjoying himself,” said Jansen. “And when he’s enjoying his football, he performs.

What It Means for City’s Future

This isn’t just about replacing De Bruyne, it’s about setting up a sustainable, dynamic midfield for the next decade. In Reijnders, Guardiola gains a:

• Proven goal contributor
• European-tested playmaker
• Press-resistant carrier
• Hard-working defender
• Culture fit in the Cruyffian tradition

And as Adam Bate observed, he wears No. 14, a nod to Johan Cruyff and Guardiola’s own playing legacy.

Reijnders Snapshot:

Age: 26
From: AC Milan
Fee: £46.3m
Contract: 2025–2030
2024/25 (All Competitions):

• 15 Goals
• 7 Assists
• 90% Pass Accuracy
• 3.1 Interceptions per 90
• 6.4 Final-third entries per 90

Guardiola on Reijnders

While official quotes from Pep Guardiola are pending, sources inside the club suggest he views Reijnders as a “player who can control tempo, stretch the pitch, and contribute both goals and defensive resilience.”