Tijjani Reijnders linked with summer exit as Arsenal emerge as potential suitors
Manchester City midfielder Tijjani Reijnders is reportedly facing an uncertain future at the Etihad Stadium and could be sold this summer, with data analysis suggesting a move to Arsenal would be an ideal fit. According to a report from Italian outlet Calciomercato, the 27-year-old Dutch international has attracted interest from several European clubs after falling out of favour under Pep Guardiola in recent months.
Reijnders arrived from AC Milan for a fee of €54.9 million just last summer and initially played a key role in the early part of the 2025-26 campaign. However, a tactical shift by Guardiola has seen the midfielder relegated to a peripheral role. He has not started a Premier League match since late January and has been an unused substitute in six of City's last nine league games, including the last three consecutive fixtures.
The change in system has established Rodri, Bernardo Silva, and Rayan Cherki as Guardiola's preferred midfield trio. Even with Bernardo Silva confirming his departure this summer, City are expected to recruit a replacement, with Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson and Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez named as potential targets. This further clouds Reijnders's prospects of regaining a starting position, opening the door to a potential transfer.
While a direct sale to Premier League rivals Arsenal is considered unlikely by some observers due to the recent rivalry between the clubs, data analytics firm SciSports has identified Mikel Arteta's side as the most suitable next destination for the player. Using their Career Advice tool, SciSports gave Arsenal a Club Fit score of 86 for Reijnders, higher than other linked clubs like Napoli, Juventus, and his former side AC Milan.
The analysis suggests Arsenal's playing style would be an excellent match for Reijnders's attributes and that his development would be significantly enhanced by a move to North London. This season, despite his limited minutes lately, Reijnders has contributed seven goals and eight assists in 45 appearances across all competitions for City, averaging a goal involvement every 180 minutes.
At Arsenal, he would provide additional creativity in a midfield that already features Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard, and Eberechi Eze. The Gunners have reportedly struggled for attacking fluency at times this year, and a player of Reijnders's profile could offer a solution. Any move would, of course, be contingent on Manchester City's willingness to negotiate with a direct competitor and on Arsenal formalising any interest.
