By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu
As European champions prepare for global glory, English giants Manchester City have splashed €55 million to land Dutch midfield sensation Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan. The move signals Pep Guardiola’s mission to rebuild and reinforce after a turbulent season that ended with City outside the top three in the Premier League.
Reijnders, 26, arrives with weighty expectations following a spectacular season in Italy where he notched 15 goals and 9 assists in 36 Serie A appearances. His standout performances earned him the Best Midfielder award in the Italian topflight for the 2024/2025 campaign.
“I’m joining the best team in the world,” the Netherlands international declared during his unveiling. “It’s an honour to play under Pep Guardiola, whose football ideas I’ve followed closely for years.”
His arrival comes just as the club prepares for the FIFA Club World Cup set to kick off in the United States. City are scheduled to face Wydad AC of Morocco in their opener on June 18, and Reijnders is widely expected to debut in that high-stakes match.
Manchester City’s sporting director, Txiki Begiristain, described the signing as a calculated step toward reclaiming domestic dominance and making a bold statement on the world stage. “Tijjani brings dynamic energy, intelligence, and flexibility. He’s exactly what we need as we transition into the next phase of our team’s evolution,” Begiristain said.
The Dutchman’s versatility across the midfield — capable of operating as a deep-lying playmaker, a box-to-box engine, or a creative No. 10 makes him a natural fit to fill the void left by Kevin De Bruyne’s high-profile departure to Saudi club Al-Nassr.
For many Nigerian football fans who closely follow Premier League action and admire Guardiola’s tactical mastery, this move represents another thrilling chapter in City’s global project. The deal also underlines the Premier League’s continued allure in attracting top-tier talent from across Europe’s biggest leagues.
With social media already abuzz and supporters eager to see how Reijnders links up with stars like Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, and Rodri, all eyes now turn to his first test in sky blue one that could define City’s ambitions for the new era.