Aston Villa are eyeing a £45m deal for Tijjani Reijnders as the Dutch international considers his Manchester City future.
- Former Villa scout Bryan King confirmed exclusively to Villa News that “a deal could be done” between Villa and Reijnders
- The 27-year-old contributed 14 goal involvements across all competitions despite limited consistent starts
- City paid £45m for the Dutchman last summer and will not accept less according to King
- Reijnders was named Serie A midfielder of the year with AC Milan before his Etihad switch
The situation: a stellar cv, a difficult season
Tijjani Reijnders’ first season in the Premier League has not delivered the consistent impact either he or Manchester City anticipated.
The 27-year-old arrived at the Etihad from AC Milan on the back of arguably the finest individual campaign of his career. Serie A midfielder of the year, outstanding goal contributions, and the kind of technical and physical profile suggested an immediate impact in English football.
His debut against Wolves in August appeared to confirm those expectations immediately: a goal, an assist, 91% pass accuracy, four duels won, and three defensive actions in a commanding all-round display. Also, his performance at Villa Park in the early stages of the season was a great one.
However, consistent starts and the level of performance that display promised proved elusive as the season developed. Fourteen goal involvements across all competitions represents a respectable return, but not the transformative contribution City expected when sanctioning the £45m investment.
Former Villa scout Bryan King was candid in his exclusive assessment for Villa News. “He wasn’t brought in to be a squad player, he was supposed to make a difference,” King stated.
“He had numbers at AC Milan that Morgan Rogers would have been proud of. It hasn’t worked out that way, so he’s going to want more game time. A deal could be done with Aston Villa. He’ll certainly be of interest to Villa, but City aren’t going to let him go for less than the £45million they paid, if not more.”
Why Reijnders fits Villa perfectly
The tactical case for Reijnders at Villa Park is compelling and specific. Emery’s midfield has been consistently disrupted by injuries throughout the season, Kamara missing the entire campaign, Onana repeatedly sidelined with calf problems, and the manager forced into creative solutions including Lindelöf in midfield during the most critical European fixtures.
Adding a technically elite, physically robust, and creatively gifted central midfielder addresses the most persistent vulnerability in the squad.
Reijnders’ specific profile: a progressive ball-carrier with outstanding passing range, defensive discipline, and a proven goal-scoring record from midfield, complements rather than duplicates the existing options. Alongside Tielemans, Onana, McGinn, and a returning Kamara, his arrival would give Emery one of the deepest and most technically accomplished midfield units in the Premier League.
His Champions League experience with Milan and his desire for regular first-team football at the highest level makes Villa a genuinely compelling selling point in any recruitment conversation.
The price and the competition
City’s valuation is clear and firm. Bryan King confirmed the £45m figure represents the minimum the Premier League champions would accept, and potentially more given the competition Reijnders’ availability would generate.
For a club like Villa, £45m for a player of his established quality represents achievable and justifiable investment.
The Rogers sale increasingly likely this summer would provide the funding mechanism for exactly this kind of elite midfield acquisition. Selling a homegrown talent for £80m-plus and reinvesting a portion in an established Champions League-level midfielder represents intelligent portfolio management.
ReadAstonVilla Verdict
Reijnders at £45m could be the signing that elevates Villa’s midfield from excellent to genuinely elite. A Serie A midfielder of the year, frustrated by limited minutes at City, available at a price the club can comfortably afford with Champions League revenue incoming, the logic is overwhelming. Move before the summer window creates a bidding war.
