One year after Manchester City paid AC Milan £46.5m for Tijjani Reijnders, the Dutch midfielder is close to a move to Al Qadsia worth just over £50m. The deal would be a fast exit after only one season, and it would carry a second layer for Milan if it goes through in time.
The fee and the first-year clause
There is a spread in the reporting around the sale value, with figures described as just over £50m, around £50m, and €60m. The common thread is that City are prepared to move him on quickly after paying £46.5m last summer.
The Milan angle is straightforward enough. Reijnders was sold to City for €55m fixed plus up to a further €14m in performance-related bonuses, and Milan’s clause would hand them the full €14m if City sell him in the first year after his move. A sale now would be enough to trigger that payment.
Reijnders' first season at City
Reijnders has scored 7 goals in 50 games for City. That is not a damaging return for a midfielder, but it is modest when set against the size of the fee and the speed of the possible sale.
City’s interest in reshaping the midfield also sits behind the move. They have signed Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116m, and the wider recruitment picture also includes other targets such as Enzo Fernandez. Rodri’s future remains part of the conversation too.
The important point is the timing. City are not waiting long to decide whether Reijnders fits the next version of the squad, and Milan could still profit from the first-year sale clause if the Al Qadsia deal closes now.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →
