Dutch midfielder Tijjani Reijnders is about to leave AC Milan, the club he joined just two seasons ago, to become a new player for Manchester City under Pep Guardiola. The transfer, expected to close in the next few days, would include his participation in the upcoming Club World Cup.

Even though he renewed his contract with the Rossoneri last March until 2030, Reijnders had been negotiating with the Citizens for several days. Local media report there’s already an agreement between both clubs and the player to finalize the deal for a fee close to $76.3 million.

A strategic sale after a disappointing season

Awarded Serie A’s best midfielder of the year, Reijnders had an impressive season with 10 league goals and 15 in all competitions. However, Milan’s poor season, finishing outside European spots, forced the club to make tough decisions, starting with this sale.

Reijnders arrived at Milan in summer 2023 from AZ Alkmaar, for around $21.8 million. Since then, he became a starter thanks to his creative ability and offensive presence from midfield. With Reijnders’ imminent departure, Milan could reinvest some of the money to rebuild their midfield, and veteran Croatian Luka Modrić is already being talked about as the main target to strengthen that area.

While the official announcement is still pending, Milan fans have expressed their frustration on social media, recalling a similar situation two years ago when Sandro Tonali was sold to Newcastle for a fee close to $76 million.