The signing of the Dutch midfielder, Tijjani Reijnders, was not announced by City before 8 PM CET yesterday, the deadline of the mini transfer window for the Fifa Club World Cup. But it’s merely a formal delay, since the player is with the national team: the signature is already there, and the official announcement was expected shortly (which arrived this morning).
Tijjani Reijnders is a new Manchester City player. But were there some doubts?
Some unfounded doubts have arisen among a few hopeful fans, considering how last night was the final day of the early June mini transfer window dedicated to the Club World Cup, and how the deadline was set for 8 PM (Italian time). A deadline by which City had not announced the Dutchman's arrival.
There was no official statement by then and there were no social media post from both official parties to confirm the signature which already took place.
Absolutely nothing. Yet the agreement between the two clubs was reached several days ago. Not only that: the Dutch midfielder underwent his medical on Sunday and then signed the contract that will tie him to City for five years, until June 30, 2030.
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Speaking of Reijnders again, what's next?
Will Reijnders be able to play the Club World Cup with Manchester City, in Group G along with Juventus, Wydad Casablanca, and Al Ain? Will he face the Bianconeri or not? Yes, he will play in the Club World Cup. Even when the official announcement did not arrive in time, there were really no reason to doubt that. There is no issue on that front even if the English club did not make the official announcement before the end of the transfer window.
Reijnders’ contract, as also confirmed by English media, was properly filed. The signature is there, and everything went according to plan. City simply decided to postpone the official announcement of the former Milan player’s arrival because he was engaged with the Netherlands national team. He was in Groningen for the match against Malta, valid for the World Cup Qualifiers and won 8-0 by the Oranje, although he remained on the bench for the entire game.
Guardiola’s Manchester City chose to wait until Reijnders was free from commitments to organize everything in the best possible way—including on social media, with photos, videos, and his first statements in the new jersey. The announcement, therefore, was never in doubt and that is why it arrived later, more precisely this morning. And Reijnders will be free to join Ait-Nouri and Bettinelli, the other two signings already made official by Man City, while waiting for the club to do the same with Rayan Cherki. The destination is the United States: including the match against Juventus.
A blow to the Milan fans who admired Tijjani Reijnders
For those who always defended Reijnders—even in the face of easy criticism—this departure stings. Because it’s more than just a transfer: it’s confirmation that Italian football is no longer a final destination for top talent, but a springboard from which to take a leap. It’s a loss on a human level too: Reijnders is a great man, a clear figure in an increasingly cynical world, and seeing him forced to move abroad to fully emerge surely leaves a bitter aftertaste.
Those who saw him up close know this player has long deserved more than Serie A. Now he’ll finally have the stage he merits. But the feeling remains that something has been lost—not just for Milan, but for all of Italian football.
