Tijjani Reijnders, a 23-year-old Dutch midfielder, is the new kid making waves at AC Milan. With Manchester City undergoing a highly publicised midfield makeover, he’s emerging as a potential key player in that process. Reijnders is taking after no better tradition than of Dutch soccer greats Frank Rijkaard, Ruud Gullit, and Marco van Basten. He is using that undeniable creativity now to great effect with Napoli in Italy’s Serie A. His incredible outings have drawn national focus on his electric scoring touch. Beyond that, they are a testament to the dazzling technical talent and wizardry he has brought on the world’s biggest stage.
Having only turned 23 in July 2021, Reijnders has already made himself a regular fixture in the starting line-up at Milan. During the 2024/25 season he really broke through, scoring 15 league goals. He proved his prowess as a playmaker who makes incisive passes and is always a threat to score. His versatility fits perfectly with Manchester City’s possession-oriented style of play. This is what makes him an ideal candidate to revitalize their deeply mediocre midfield.
As for what has stuck out to coaches and teammates alike, it’s been Reijnders’ demeanor and work ethic. Characterized by many as “always smiling,” he’s had an immeasurable motivation to do better ever since making the move to Milan. Pascal Jansen, his coach at AZ Alkmaar, said that Reijnders had to learn patience at the start of his career. He could play the 10 role, sure, but he was better deployed deeper on the pitch. He had to be patient, Jansen explained.
Reijnders was not afraid to arrestingly lay out his ambitions. “He came up to me and said, ‘Coach, I have played 50 per cent of the minutes but I need more,’” Jansen recalled. That kind of ambition translated into greater playing time and a chance to blossom as the clear-cut No.
“Once he went in, he improved himself daily. Just by playing, feeling the confidence from his coach and from the team, he matured,” – Pascal Jansen
This maturation process has most recently been reflected in Reijnders’ on-court performance. This placed him in the top 20 players in Serie A at converting chances into goals from open play. He led MLS in chances created, passes completed in the final third, dribbles completed, as well as defensive interceptions. His ability to impact the game positively on both ends of the pitch is a huge testament to his growth as a player.
As much as Reijnders’ attacking talents have been the talk of the town, there was a point where his defensive prowess was described as poor. Under the guidance of honest and tough coaches at AZ Alkmaar, he has greatly improved in this aspect. As he daily trains with AC Milan and the Netherlands national team, he has a chance to keep developing. Michel Vonk noted, “His defending was a weak point before but he has developed this a lot playing games for AZ, Milan and the Netherlands national team.”
Reijnders’ journey has been shaped by the stars that he idolized as a child. He idolized Andrés Iniesta in his formative years and wears the No. 14 shirt, which was popularized by Johan Cruyff. What’s evident here, in this connection to footballing legends, is that he’s committed, and he wants to tap into that passion and be great as they were.
Although there was pronounced interest from some of Europe’s top clubs, including FC Barcelona, Reijnders chose AC Milan. That has turned out to be a wise decision. It’s helped elevate his profile in Italy where he even won the award for Serie A’s midfielder of the year for his brilliant play these past two seasons.
His growing stature in football circles indicates that he could bring the necessary energy and creativity to Manchester City’s midfield. The pundits are clambering with glee at his possible fit into the team. So his versatility and comfort on the ball in a possession-heavy system matches up seamlessly with City’s style.
“He was very important in the build-up phase. He could feel when he needed to come deep to support Jordy Clasie. But he was also able to carry the ball, provide assists and take shots from distance and score goals,” – Pascal Jansen
Manchester City are rebuilding their ranks for long-term dominance on the home front and in Europe. Tijjani Reijnders has emerged as a fascinating addition to deepen their midfield talent. His combination of technical skill, goal-scoring ability, and positive attitude positions him as not just a player to watch but a potential game-changer for one of football’s most storied clubs.
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