Manchester City have confirmed the signing of AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders for an initial fee of £46.5 million on a five-year contract.
The Netherlands international is Pep Guardiola’s fourth summer signing with Rayan Ait-Nouri, Marcus Bettinelli and Rayan Cherki having also joined.
Reijnders, 26, was signed in time to be eligible for this month’s Club World Cup in America and could make his debut on June 18 against Wydad FC.
“I am ecstatic to be signing for Manchester City,” Reijnders said. “City are one of the biggest teams in the world, with the best coach, world-class players and outstanding facilities.
“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.”
The midfielder has been capped 22 times by the Netherlands but was left on the bench during Tuesday night’s 8-0 thrashing of Malta.
He scored 15 goals in 54 matches across all competitions for Milan last term and was named Serie A’s midfielder of the season.
With Kevin de Bruyne departing the club, Reijnders will strengthen the centre of the pitch for Guardiola as they look to improve on their third-placed Premier League finish last season.
Already, they have boosted the side with the signings of midfielder Reijnders and Cherki and left-back Ait-Nouri for a total of around £108 million, which is less than the reported 150 million Euros (£127m) asking price for the Germany international.
All three, plus new goalkeeper Bettinelli, are available for selection for the Club World Cup.
Reijnders joins City in a period which feels like a revolution rather than a renewal, and one that may require a revolving door at the Etihad over the next few months.
Attacking midfielder Cherki has already joined, while midfielders Kalvin Phillips, James McAtee and Jack Grealish have all been tipped to leave the club, along with defender Kyle Walker who spent the latter part of last season out on loan.
The squad also includes Ederson, Stefan Ortega, Nathan Ake and John Stones, whose futures have also been the topic of much media speculation.
Finding the right time to replace ageing stars like Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva and the injured Mateo Kovacic in City’s midfield will also surely be in Guardiola’s thinking.
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Despite the £50 million acquisition of Nico Gonzalez in February, the lack of running power and physicality in City’s engine room was exposed last season as they failed to win a major trophy for the first time in eight years.
Reijnders, who turns 27 in July, is viewed as the man to help alter that dynamic.
A powerful box-to-box midfielder, Reijnders ended last season with 10 goals and four assists in Serie A, with only one player in his position, Napoli’s Scott McTominay (16), having more goal involvements.
His performances were also considered one of the few positives in a disappointing season for Milan, who finished eighth in Serie A and missed out on European qualification.
Reijnders was ranked ninth for forward passes in Italy’s top flight last term and was fifth for through balls and carrying the ball.
“He will slot in very well at City, he runs a lot, he’s very willing to improve and he will love working with Guardiola,” said Italian football journalist Daniele Verri.
“He improved a lot since his first season at AC Milan.
