Man City agree £59m deal for AC Milan star Tijjani Reijnders as Pep Guardiola secures first major summer signing

According to Fabrizio Romano, the Netherlands international is set to join the Manchester side with a verbal agreement now in place after personal terms were settled earlier in the week. Only the final formalities are yet to be resolved between the two clubs as the transfer nears completion.

With Kevin De Bruyne's departure leaving a creative vacuum, and Ilkay Gundogan yet to fully replicate his first spell form since returning from Barcelona, Guardiola was expected to act decisively in the transfer market. At 26, Reijnders is entering his prime years and has been instrumental for Milan. His performances in Serie A were so impactful that he was recently crowned the league’s best midfielder for the 2024–25 season, a testament to his growth since arriving in Italy.

Guardiola has long prized midfielders who can both dictate tempo and stretch opposition defences with vertical runs, traits Reijnders brings in abundance. Known for his tactical intelligence and work rate, the Netherlands ace fits the mould of a typical Guardiola midfielder, capable of transitioning seamlessly between controlling possession and injecting pace into the attack.

In 2024-25, Reijnders found the net 15 times in all competitions, a career-best return that signals a growing comfort in front of goal. That offensive output is especially valuable for City at a time when goals from deeper-lying midfielders are increasingly crucial.

With the Reijnders deal all but sealed, City are expected to continue their summer business, particularly in midfield and defence. Guardiola remains keen on refreshing the squad after a gruelling campaign that left them trophyless and exposed a lack of depth in key areas.