Tijjani Reijnders looks to evolve in Man City midfield after majestic spell at AC Milan

Club World Cup clash against Juventus will give Dutchman opportunity to prove his class against familiar opposition

Tijani Reijnders made his Manchester City debut against Wydad AC at the Club World Cup. AFP

From San Siro to the Etihad, a new chapter is underway for Tijjani Reijnders. The midfielder who made his mark at Milan with key goals and a calm presence joined Manchester City not as a headline act, but as a player of balance.

In a sport often driven by noise, his story is one of quiet confidence, discipline and steady impact.

Manchester City’s squad was in urgent need of renewal after Kevin De Bruyne's departure left a creative vacuum. City moved swiftly, bringing in Reijnders as part of a reimagined midfield that now also includes the mercurial Rayan Cherki.

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A classic box-to-box midfielder, the Dutchman thrives on identifying and exploiting space – both on and off the ball.

As evidenced by his performance in the Club World Cup so far, Reijnders has slotted in at his new club with ease. “He is a really, really good player. You feel it, you smell it. The pace, in the final third, with the ball, when he will get a little bit more rhythm, he will be top,” said Pep Guardiola of his new acquisition.

After arriving at Milan from AZ Alkmaar in 2023, Reijnders' quality quickly shone through. Named Serie A’s best midfielder of the season, he scored 15 goals in all competitions, the most of any central midfielder across Europe’s top five leagues. He emerged as a rare bright spot in an underwhelming Milan side.

Reijnders credits his family’s influence and closeness for the growth of his career.

“My mother is Indonesian and my father is Dutch,” he said. “My siblings and I are a mix. My son Xavien is an incredible mix because my wife is from Iraq.

“As a child, I had Indonesian and Dutch influences which shaped me into who I am today. From Dutch culture, I learnt to stay grounded, and from the Indonesian side, to be very proud of what you do and achieve.”

That blend of cultures extends even to his name. Tijjani Reijnders was named after Nigerian winger Tijani Babangida, a former Ajax star whose talent left a lasting impression on his parents. Drawn to the name as much as the player’s flair, they chose it for their son, a not-so-subtle nod to the game that would soon shape his life.

Football ran deep in the family. His father, Martin Reijnders, was also a footballer, a forward who played in the Netherlands, Finland, and the United States.

Following in his footsteps, Tijjani pursued the sport from a young age. But humility was always part of the journey. While rising through the ranks at PEC Zwolle’s academy, his parents insisted he take a job stacking shelves at Aldi to learn the value of money and ensure discipline.

He met his Iraqi wife, Marina, on Instagram, pursuing her until she agreed to meet him for tea. From the start, he told her that his first girlfriend would be his wife, and so it proved.

Marina was by his side as Reijnders' career gathered momentum, and in February last year their son Xavien was born in Milan. Reijnders describes him as “a beautiful blend of cultures” and is proud that his first word was in Arabic: “Baba.”

Reijnders has often expressed his deep gratitude to Milan – the city that embraced his young family and the club that offered him the platform to thrive. But his journey there might never have happened.

When Barcelona came calling, it was his dad who advised him to walk away. “Obviously it’s flattering that they had him in their sights, after all, we are talking about Barca,” Reijnders senior told Algemeen Dagblad.

“But they were looking for a replacement for Sergio Busquets. I immediately said to Tijjani: ‘You’re not that type of player. Before you know it, you’ll be on the bench, just another talent who didn’t make it abroad'.”

In Milan, Reijnders found exactly what he needed: consistency, clarity, and the space to grow. “Speaking with [Stefano] Pioli [Milan’s former coach] I discovered that the club had followed me all year and the coach knew exactly what I could add to the team and had also been very clear about my role as an attacking midfielder,” he said.

Reijnders is most comfortable as a number eight – a dynamic presence who shuttles between boxes and contributes to both attacking and defensive phases.

Under Paolo Fonseca, who succeeded Pioli, his versatility became even more evident. He was at times deployed just behind the striker, and at others as a deep-lying number six shielding the back line.

What truly set him apart, however, was his composure on the biggest stages. He scored in three Milan derbies last season and delivered a standout performance against Real Madrid in the Uefa Champions League.

Sergio Conceicao's arrival saw Reijnders evolve further, becoming both the heartbeat of Milan’s midfield and a visible leader on the pitch. When trailing 1–0 to Cesc Fabregas’s Como in Serie A, he showcased the full scope of his game. He assisted Christian Pulisic’s equaliser and rattled the crossbar before finally curling in the winner.

Amid managerial upheaval, Reijnders provided consistency. His tactical intelligence flourished, his game matured and his influence grew, catching the attention of Manchester City, among others.

Tijjani Reijnders scored 15 goals for Italian side AC Milan last season. AFP

“It feels like the right time for Reijnders to make this move,” Italian football expert Nicky Bandini told The National.

“To me it seemed like the world sat up and paid attention a bit after his performances for the Netherlands at Euro 24 but if anything, the last year has given him a chance to show even more what a player he has become.

“This was a difficult season for Milan, changing managers in the summer then again in December, and more than any other player Reijnders showed he could adapt to different systems and fill different roles in the team – something that a manager such as Guardiola, with his constantly evolving schemes, will always appreciate.

“I don't think City fans should necessarily expect him to keep up his scoring rate from this season – 15 goals across all competitions – because that's still not his primary role as a footballer.

“But I think that number reflects how he has matured and become more confident in his decisions in the final third. He has talked about being less hasty on the pitch, and it shows.”

Reijnders earned praise for his positional discipline and ability to shield the ball during City’s opening match against Wydad Casablanca. Yet questions remain over his defensive bite and effectiveness in duels – areas still ripe for development.

Rested against Al Ain, his upcoming test against Juventus will offer another snapshot of his talents against familiar opposition.

It will be fascinating to see whether Guardiola, alongside Reijnders' compatriot and new assistant coach Pepijn Lijnders, can help him evolve into a truly complete midfielder.