Reijnders is officially a Manchester City player, and folks, this isn’t your average football transfer. AC Milan might’ve handed him over, but not without sprinkling in a delicious plot twist—City must pay extra if he wins the Ballon d’Or. Yep, the most prestigious prize in football is now part of a contractual clause. No pressure, Tijjani.
This €70.7 million package isn’t just a financial blockbuster—it’s got more layers than a lasagna in Naples. City coughed up €57.7m up front, but it’s the €2m Ballon d’Or bonus that’s grabbing headlines (and chuckles).
Reijnders and the Case of the Magical Bonus Triggers
Let’s break it down: win the Premier League? That’s €1m. Win the Champions League? Another €2m. UEFA qualification? €5m. It’s like a FIFA career mode save gone wild. And then there’s that sweet cherry on top—€1m if he stays put from 2030 to 2032, which feels more like a reward for loyalty than goals.
But Milan’s got insurance too. If City sells him early, they still get the full €14m bonus haul. That’s Milan playing 4D chess in a game of transfer poker.
Reijnders Could Be Guardiola’s Midfield Muse
Who really is this maestro then? Reijnders is 26, and after an excellent season at Milan in which he scored 10 goals, he earned the Serie A Team of the Season. He is not unused to ovation, and the new goal is an encore in sky blue.
Guardiola must believe in his magic, and Reijnders already looks comfortable orchestrating the midfield at the Club World Cup, even if City did get Hilal’d out early.
Why He Might Be the Sleeper Hit of the Season
This isn’t just about one player joining another club. This is football’s equivalent of planting a dynamite clause in a blockbuster script. If Reijnders lifts that Ballon d’Or, someone in Milan’s boardroom is throwing the world’s most smug party.
One thing’s for sure: Guardiola better keep that trophy cabinet extra polished—Reijnders might just need space.
As featured on ManCityNews.com
