Manchester City have officially announced the signing of Dutch midfielder Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan, a move widely seen as a direct replacement for outgoing club legend Kevin De Bruyne.
The 26-year-old signs a five-year contract with the Premier League champions, marking City’s fourth major signing of the summer. While the club did not disclose the transfer fee, multiple sources report the deal is worth around €55 million (approximately RM266.5 million).
Reijnders Steps in After De Bruyne Exit
De Bruyne’s departure this summer brought an end to a remarkable 10-year spell with City, where he played a central role in the club’s domestic and European dominance. Rumours had swirled for weeks that Reijnders would be the chosen successor, and City have now confirmed it.
The Dutch international is coming off an impressive campaign with AC Milan, having made 54 appearances across all competitions last season. He contributed 15 goals and 5 assists, earning the title of Serie A Midfielder of the Year for 2024/25.
Fourth Signing of the Summer for City
Reijnders follows Wolves full-back Rayan Aït-Nouri, Lyon forward Rayan Cherki, and free-agent goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli as City’s summer signings. The club’s total transfer spending now approaches €130 million (around RM630 million).
According to data from Transfermarkt, City leads all clubs globally in transfer expenditure so far in 2025, spending a massive €346 million (approximately RM1.677 billion). Chelsea follows with €131 million, and Manchester United with €106 million.
Eligible for Club World Cup Debut
Although the announcement came after the Premier League’s special Club World Cup transfer window had closed, City confirmed that the deal was finalised before the deadline. As a result, Reijnders is eligible to represent the club in the FIFA Club World Cup starting June 15.
Speaking about his move, Reijnders said:
“Everyone knows the Premier League is the best in the world. You saw how intense the race for the top spots was last season. Playing here has always been a dream.”
“I’m thrilled to sign for Manchester City, one of the biggest clubs globally. The manager, the players, the facilities… everything is world-class. Under Pep Guardiola, City have won so much, and I’m hoping to contribute to more success in the coming years.”
Chelsea Let Go of Sancho After Loan Spell
In other transfer news, Chelsea has confirmed the end of Jadon Sancho’s loan spell. The England winger will return to Manchester United, although his future remains uncertain.
Despite a reported buy clause in the loan deal, Chelsea opted not to make the move permanent. Instead, they paid United a £5 million (approx. RM28 million) penalty fee to bypass the obligation.
Sancho, who still has a year left on his contract with United, is reportedly unwilling to take a pay cut to remain at Chelsea. He currently earns a hefty £300,000 per week (RM1.7 million), making negotiations with other clubs more complicated.
His future at United also remains unclear, with both the club and the player exploring possible solutions for the upcoming season.
