Tijjani Reijnders' dazzling performance in the Man City debut made many people surprised. The fans started to find out who this guy was? And they were more surprised to learn about his peak journey.
Who is Reijnders?
Reijnders was born on July 29, 1998 in Zwolle, Netherlands. He carried Indonesian blood from his mother, which made Reijnders become a player who received special attention from the Southeast Asian Football Fans community. Despite being born in the Netherlands, where the world's leading football development, but that diverse cultural connection has helped him have a very different perspective on his career and striving path.
Reijnders started his career at Pec Zwolle. This is the homeland team, where he soon revealed the technical qualities and the ability to handle the ball smart. However, the path of Reijnders did not spread roses. Before being widely known, Reijnders was once considered a “ordinary player”, nothing outstanding compared to the common ground at the Dutch academy. It was only when joining Az Alkmaar, his talent was gradually honed and promoted.
The remarkable point in Reijnders is the durability and the ability to learn constantly. He is not a player who is more powerful, instead is the intelligence in the way of moving, the ability to keep the game's rhythm and especially the balloon. Thanks to that step -by -step progress, he was called to the Dutch national team in 2023, and quickly became an important factor in the midfield of the orange tornado.
Career journey from the Netherlands to Milan
The biggest turning point in Reijnders's career until he switched to Az Alkmaar. Here, he was given the opportunity to play regularly in Eredivisie and the European arena. In AZ shirt, Reijnders not only mature in terms of tactical techniques, but also proves the rare versatility. He can play as a deep midfielder to distribute the ball, but can also rise as a dynamic number, or even some creative 10 when the team needs.
The 2022/23 season is considered a leap in his career. Reijnders played more than 50 matches in all competitions for AZ, scored and created at important times, and showed the ability to maintain incredible stability. Statistics from experts indicate that Reijnders is one of the most accurate and accurate passing players in the Dutch league, and has a high rate of participation in attack situations.
It was that dazzling performance that helped him reach the sights of AC Milan, the team is in the process of rebuilding forces. In the summer of 2023, Milan spent 25 million euros (about 20 million pounds) to bring Reijnders to San Siro. In Serie A, many people doubt whether an adult midfielder in the Netherlands can adapt to the harsh tactical environment. But Reijnders quickly proved, with the calmness and ability to regulate the gameplay, he integrated almost immediately and became an important link in Rossoneri's tactical diagram.
Not only that, Reijnders also asserted himself in the Champions League arena. Before the strong opponents, he still showed confidence, not flinching, and always know how to create a balance for the middle. Thanks to these qualities, he was likened by experts as the “golden contract” of Milan, a player not too noisy but brings the necessary stability for the collective.
Dream Etihad and the desire to affirm in Man City
After two successful seasons at AC Milan, especially in the 2024/25 season when he was elected to the Season University and won the best midfielder in Serie A, Reijnders continued to add a large step in his career when he joined Man City in the summer of 2025.
This is not only a recognition for his persistent efforts, but also a maximum challenge when wearing a former Premier League championship. Played under the guidance of Pep Guardiola, one of the greatest coaches of all time, is the opportunity for Reijnders to perfect themselves at the highest level.
At Man City, Reijnders is expected to add flexibility and depth to the midfield. He is not only a backup plan, but it can completely become an important part of the tactical system that highlights control and creativity. With Kevin De Bruyne just gone, Man City needs new factors capable of carrying the responsibility to organize the gameplay, and Reijnders is considered one of the brightest options.
Interestingly, Reijnders' contract with Man City is also considered “special” because it is associated with his aspiration since childhood. In many interviews, Reijnders once shared that he always dreamed of wearing one of the strongest teams in the world, which converged the top stars. Now, when the dream comes true, the Indonesian Dutch player understands that the accompanying pressure is huge, but it is also an opportunity for him to become a world -class star.
Reijnders is not a player who will immediately create impressive goals or assists, but he brings stability, balance and ability to control the pace of the match, extremely important factors in the top -notch environment like the Premier League. Experts say that if continuing to maintain the performance and professional attitude as shown in the Netherlands and Italy, Reijnders can completely become an integral part of the Man City squad in the coming years.
With Reijnders, the journey from Zwolle, through Alkmaar, Milan to Etihad is a story of perseverance, maturity and constant aspirations. He is a testament to that it is not to be a prodigy from a young age to reach the peak, just need to be brave enough, the will and hard work, that path will still open. And now, Reijnders is the biggest challenge in his career, asserting himself in the shirt of one of the strongest teams in the world today.
This is an excerpt from the article “Tijjani Reijnders, 'Indonesian conductor' brought a new dawn to Man City”. Please read the full article here.
