Kevin de Bruyne’s departure from Manchester City is causing a stir in the transfer market. Tijjani Reijnders is moving from AC Milan to the Skyblues.
After ten years at Manchester City, Kevin de Bruyne will leave the club next season. This necessitates a reshuffle in midfield. With Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan, coach Pep Guardiola’s team has now signed a potential successor to fill the vacant position in the center. “Tijjani will enrich our midfield with additional energy, calmness, and creativity, and working with Pep and our coaches will only make him stronger,” said ManCity’s football director Hugo Viana.
As the Skyblues announced on Wednesday, the 23-time Dutch international is moving to Manchester. According to English media reports, the transfer fee for Reijnders is around €70 million, with a fixed sum of €44 million going to Milan, according to The Athletic.
Midfielder of the Year
If the maximum amount is reached, the 26-year-old, who signed a five-year contract, would set a new transfer record for the Rossoneri. This was previously held by Kaka, who left Milan for Real Madrid in 2009 for €67 million.
Reijnders can look back on a successful year in sporting terms, but not for the traditional club. Under coach Sergio Conceicao, Milan had a mixed season, despite winning the Supercoppa at the start of the year. Finishing eighth in the table, they missed out on international competition and also lost the Coppa Italia final to Bologna (0-1). Massimiliano Allegri will take over as coach for the coming season.
The Dutchman distinguished himself as a consistent player in the center in 37 games, scoring ten goals and providing five assists. Accordingly, the 26-year-old was voted Serie A midfielder of the season at the end of the season. In March, his contract was extended until 2030. Reijnders only moved to San Siro for the 2023/24 season after playing for several clubs in the Netherlands and impressing at AZ Alkmaar. Now he is heading to England for the first time.
“It’s a dream come true to play in the Premier League. Many of the best Dutch players have played in this league over the years, and it’s an inspiration to follow in their footsteps,” said the new signing.
The Dutchman, who will already play for ManCity in the Club World Cup, is expected to bring new momentum to the Skyblues’ aging midfield, where Bernardo Silva, Ilkay Gündogan, and Mateo Kovacic are all over 30.
