The transfer of Tijjani Reijnders to Manchester City has been finalized. The Premier League club confirmed on Wednesday that the Dutch international has signed a five-year contract, making him the fourth most expensive Dutch footballer ever.
According to various media, City is paying 70 million euros for the 26-year-old Reijnders. Only Frenkie de Jong (86 million euros), Matthijs de Ligt (85.5 million euros), and Virgil van Dijk (84.7 million euros) have ever commanded higher fees.
“It’s nice that there’s such a price tag attached to me,” Reijnders said on Saturday about his transfer after the 0-2 victory with Oranje against Finland. “I have to make sure that I don’t put extra pressure on myself because of that price tag. But I’m not afraid that’s going to happen. I see it as a compliment.”
The transfer of Reijnders to City was already finalized on Monday, but the 22-time international still had to undergo a medical examination. On Sunday, he flew from Helsinki to Manchester, where he passed the examination.
For Reijnders, the transfer to one of the biggest clubs in the world is a new highlight in his extraordinary career. Nine years ago, the Dutchman was still active in the fourth division for the amateurs of CSV’28 from Apeldoorn.
Reijnders worked his way up through PEC Zwolle, RKC Waalwijk (on loan), and AZ to the top of football. At Milan, he quickly grew into a key player. Reijnders was voted the best midfielder in Serie A last season.
AC Milan is making a huge profit on Reijnders, who still had a contract until mid-2030. The Milanese paid around 20 million euros in the summer of 2023 to take over the Dutchman from AZ and are now selling him for 50 million euros more.
City was not the only club with interest in Reijnders, but quickly became concrete. The 2023 Champions League winner announced that he was “a priority for the number 8 position in midfield”. Reijnders then had little doubt.
Later this month, Reijnders will already make his debut for City, which starts the Club World Cup in the United States next Wednesday.
“My vacation had to be canceled due to my transfer and the World Cup,” Reijnders said on Saturday. “Football comes first now. There will be time for vacation later.”