Max Wilkins

Wed 20 May 2026 7:40, UK

Tijjani Reijnders could be on his way to Aston Villa after a difficult spell at Manchester City.

The Netherlands international completed an Etihad switch in the summer after a storming campaign with AC Milan.

He was named Serie A midfielder of the year for his work, but was unable to lift a league title during his time in Italy.

The 27-year-old linked up with Pep Guardiola off the back of that and started his time in the Premier League with a bang before his form fell away.

Reijnders may look for a way out of Man City as a result, with the Villans already emerging as an interested party.

Aston Villa ready to do Tijjani Reijnders deal

City’s number four just hasn’t hit the heights expected of him, especially after a stellar debut against Wolves in August.

He scored and grabbed an assist that day, but those sorts of showings have been few and far between since then.

The Dutchman has still contributed to 14 goal involvements in all competitions for a side that has won two domestic cups and could yet win the Premier League.

He could prove to be the perfect signing for a Villa side that has seriously struggled with midfield injury problems throughout the season.

Former B6 scout Bryan King believes the claret and blue outfit will be interested, but a deal will only be possible if City can make their money back on him.

Speaking exclusively to Villa News, King said: “If any player at Manchester City becomes available, any club will have a look.

“He wasn’t brought in to be a squad player; he was supposed to make a difference.

“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.”

Given how superb the likes of John McGinn has been for Villa, adding Reijnders could prove to be terrific business.

Reijnders could force Manchester City exit

It says a lot that the general atmosphere surrounding the midfielder’s first season in England is negative despite some positive numbers.

It will be the lack of starts and minutes in the Premier League that are likely to frustrate the Dutchman, off the back of arguably a career-best campaign.

That is where Villa could step in and offer Reijnders a landing destination as a useful creative midfield option in claret and blue.

Having his quality alongside McGinn, Youri Tielemans, Boubacar Kamara and Amadou Onana could make the core of the B6 outfit one of the best in the entire division.