Tijjani Reijnders
|
Reijnders with AC Milan in 2024 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Tijjani Martinus Jan Reijnders[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 29 July 1998[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Zwolle, Netherlands | ||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Manchester City | ||
| Number | 4 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2003–2007 | WVF Zwolle | ||
| 2007–2011 | PEC Zwolle | ||
| 2011–2015 | FC Twente | ||
| 2015–2016 | CSV '28 | ||
| 2016–2017 | PEC Zwolle | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2017 | PEC Zwolle | 1 | (0) |
| 2017–2021 | Jong AZ | 92 | (19) |
| 2018–2023 | AZ | 96 | (9) |
| 2019–2020 | → RKC Waalwijk (loan) | 8 | (0) |
| 2023–2025 | AC Milan | 73 | (13) |
| 2025– | Manchester City | 0 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2018–2019 | Netherlands U20 | 15 | (0) |
| 2023– | Netherlands | 23 | (4) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:07, 24 May 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:03, 7 June 2025 (UTC) | |||
Tijjani Martinus Jan Reijnders ([tiˈdʒani ˈrɛi̯ndərs]; born 29 July 1998) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Manchester City and the Netherlands national team.
After representing various Dutch junior teams, Reijnders began his career with his hometown club, PEC Zwolle, before moving to fellow Dutch club AZ Alkmaar in the 2017−18 season. He was then loaned to RKC Waalwijk until the conclusion of the 2019−20 campaign, returning to AZ as a mainstay. He signed for AC Milan in the summer of 2023 and won the 2024–25 Supercoppa Italiana. After two years at the Italian club, he signed for Manchester City in 2025.
Reijnders is a Dutch international, having progressed from the under-20 level onwards. He made his senior international debut for the country in September 2023.
Club career
Early career
Reijnders' role in the football scene started at a young age, where he started his career with the FC Twente youth team. He played at FC Twente until the U-17 team before being released to CSV '28 and playing for one year from 2015 to 2016.[2]
In 2016, Reijnders joined his homeland team PEC Zwolle U-19 where he then moved up the level and appeared in the Eredivisie club's first team. Even at PEC Zwolle, Reijnders only played one year.
AZ Alkmaar
In 2017, development of his career accelerated rapidly. From working at a local Aldi supermarket and training in Zwolle, he crossed over to AZ's Under-21 team and moved up to the first professional team in 2018.[3]
In 2020, he was loaned to RKC Waalwijk for six months, from January to June.[4] Afterwards, Reijnders returned to AZ and became part of the first team, in which he managed to play in the 2022–23 Europa Conference League semi-finals.[5] Reijnders was named to the Eredivisie Team of the Month in September 2022 and April 2023.
AC Milan
On 19 July 2023, Reijnders joined Serie A club AC Milan, signing a five-year contract until June 2028.[6] On 21 August, he made his first competitive start for Rossoneri in a Serie A match against Bologna.[7] On 11 November, in a Serie A match against Lecce at Stadio Via del mare, Reijnders scored his debut goal for Milan.[8] On 3 March 2025, AC Milan announced that Tijjani Reijnders had signed a contract extension, committing to the club until 30 June 2030.[9]
Reijnders was listed on the 2024–25 Serie A Team of the Season and was named the Serie A Best Midfielder of the season.[10][11]
Manchester City
On 11 June 2025, Premier League club Manchester City announced the signing of Reijnders on a five-year deal reportedly worth £46.5m.[12][13]
International career
Prior to receiving his first call-up to the Dutch senior team in June 2023 for the UEFA Nations League Finals, Reijnders was also eligible to represent Indonesia through his mother's lineage, but he chose to represent his birth country.[14][15]
On 7 September 2023, Reijnders made his Netherlands debut as a substitute in a 3–0 win over Greece in a UEFA Euro 2024 qualifier.[16] On 13 October, he made his first start as the Netherlands were defeated 2–1 by France in the same competition.[17]
Reijnders scored his first senior international goal in a 4–0 win over Scotland at the Johan Cruyff Arena on 22 March 2024.[18]
On 29 May 2024, Reijnders was named in the Netherlands' squad for UEFA Euro 2024.[19]
Style of play
Reijnders is a mobile central midfielder with a penchant for going forward into the final third and the opposition's penalty area, to either make attempts at scoring or to press opponents.
Upon his transfer to Milan, he was immediately integrated into the team's starting XI by manager Stefano Pioli as a left-sided central midfielder, known as mezzala in Italy, in a 4–3–3 formation. He also played as part of the double pivot in a 4–2–3–1 formation, again primarily on the left despite being right-footed.
According to Reijnders, tactical reasons played a somewhat significant role in him choosing AC Milan over Barcelona as his proposed playing position in the latter team would have limited his movement.[20]
Personal life
Reijnders is the son of the former footballer Martin Reijnders and the brother of Eliano Reijnders, a professional footballer playing for PEC Zwolle.[21] Reijnders is of Indonesian descent through his mother.[22]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 30 June 2025[23]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| PEC Zwolle | 2017–18 | Eredivisie | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Jong AZ | 2017–18 | Eerste Divisie | 32 | 6 | — | — | — | — | 32 | 6 | ||||
| 2018–19 | Eerste Divisie | 36 | 8 | — | — | — | — | 36 | 8 | |||||
| 2019–20 | Eerste Divisie | 16 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 16 | 3 | |||||
| 2020–21 | Eerste Divisie | 8 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 8 | 2 | |||||
| Total | 92 | 19 | — | — | — | — | 92 | 19 | ||||||
| AZ | 2017–18 | Eredivisie | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||||
| 2018–19 | Eredivisie | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||||
| 2019–20 | Eredivisie | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 0 | |||||
| 2020–21 | Eredivisie | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 22 | 0 | ||||
| 2021–22 | Eredivisie | 36 | 6 | 4 | 0 | — | 7[c] | 0 | — | 47 | 6 | |||
| 2022–23 | Eredivisie | 34 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — | 18[c] | 4 | — | 54 | 7 | |||
| Total | 96 | 9 | 7 | 0 | — | 25 | 4 | — | 128 | 13 | ||||
| RKC Waalwijk (loan) | 2019–20 | Eredivisie | 8 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 8 | 0 | ||||
| AC Milan | 2023–24 | Serie A | 36 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — | 12[d] | 1 | — | 50 | 4 | ||
| 2024–25 | Serie A | 37 | 10 | 5 | 2 | — | 10[e] | 3 | 2[f] | 0 | 54 | 15 | ||
| Total | 73 | 13 | 7 | 2 | — | 22 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 104 | 19 | |||
| Manchester City | 2024–25 | Premier League | — | — | — | — | 3[g] | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||||
| 2025–26 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 271 | 41 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 47 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 336 | 51 | ||
- ^ Includes KNVB Cup, Coppa Italia, FA Cup
- ^ Includes EFL Cup
- ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
- ^ Six appearances in UEFA Champions League, six appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League
- ^ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
- ^ Appearances in Supercoppa Italiana
- ^ Appearances in FIFA Club World Cup
International
- As of match played 7 June 2025[24]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | 2023 | 6 | 0 |
| 2024 | 14 | 3 | |
| 2025 | 3 | 1 | |
| Total | 23 | 4 | |
Scores and results list Netherlands' goal tally first.[24]
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 22 March 2024 | Johan Cruyff Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands | 7 | Scotland | 1–0 | 4–0 | Friendly |
| 2 | 7 September 2024 | Philips Stadion, Eindhoven, Netherlands | 16 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 2–1 | 5–2 | 2024–25 UEFA Nations League A |
| 3 | 10 September 2024 | Johan Cruyff Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands | 17 | Germany | 1–0 | 2–2 | 2024–25 UEFA Nations League A |
| 4 | 20 March 2025 | De Kuip, Rotterdam, Netherlands | 21 | Spain | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2024–25 UEFA Nations League A |
Honours
AC Milan
- Supercoppa Italiana: 2024–25[25]
- Coppa Italia runner-up: 2024–25
Individual
- Serie A Team of the Season: 2024–25[11]
- Serie A Best Midfielder: 2024–25[10]
- The Athletic Serie A Team of the Season: 2024–25[26]
References
- ^ a b c "Squad List: FIFA Club World Cup 2025: Manchester City (ENG)" (PDF). FIFA. 16 June 2025. p. 24. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
- ^ "Profil Tijjani Reijnders, Gelandang Andalan Eredivisie Keturunan Indonesia" (in Indonesian). Retrieved 11 February 2022.
- ^ "Reijnders promoveert naar A-selectie". www.az.nl. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
- ^ "RKC Waalwijk huurt middenvelder Tijjani Reijnders van AZ". BD. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
- ^ "Glanzlos, aber effizient: West Ham schlägt Alkmaar und steht im Endspiel" (in German). Kicker. 18 May 2023.
- ^ "Official Statement: Tijjani Reijnders". AC Milan. 19 July 2023. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
- ^ "Bologna 0-2 AC Milan (Aug 21, 2023)". ESPN. 21 August 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
- ^ "Lecce 2-2 AC Milan (Nov 11, 2023)". ESPN. 11 November 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
- ^ "OFFICIAL STATEMENT: TIJJANI REIJNDERS". AC Milan. 3 March 2025. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
- ^ a b Young, Peter (23 May 2025). "Official: All 2024-25 Serie A MVP award winners revealed". Football Italia. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
- ^ a b Arts, Electronic (16 May 2025). "Serie A Enilive Team of the Season (TOTS) - EA SPORTS FC™ Ultimate Team - EA SPORTS Official Site". Electronic Arts Inc. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
- ^ "City sign Netherlands midfielder Reijnders". Manchester City F.C. 11 June 2025. Retrieved 11 June 2025.
- ^ Coates, Charlotte (11 June 2025). "Man City confirm £46.5m signing of Reijnders". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 June 2025.
- ^ "Oranjeselectie voor de UEFA Nations League Finals" [National team squad for the Nations League Finals] (in Dutch). 29 May 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
- ^ Arifin, Asad (1 November 2024). "Tijjani Reijnders yang sangat bangga punya darah Indonesia" [Tijjani Reijnders is very proud to have Indonesian blood]. bola.net (in Indonesian). Retrieved 27 May 2025.
- ^ "REIJNDERS DEBUTS WITH THE NETHERLANDS, VICTORY FOR KJÆR". A.C. Milan. 7 September 2023. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
- ^ "Met mes op de keel, maar toch trekt Oranje vol vertrouwen naar Griekenland: "We hadden een goede mentaliteit tegen Frankrijk"". Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 16 October 2023. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
- ^ "Netherlands 4–0 Scotland: Steve Clarke's side given Euro 2024 warning in heavy defeat". BBC Sport. 22 March 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ "Netherlands Euro 2024 squad: Ian Maatsen dropped, Georginio Wijnaldum and Daley Blind retained". The New York Times. 29 May 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ "Reijnders talks role under Pioli, team-mates and choosing Milan over Barcelona". 22 December 2023.
- ^ "Reijnders in voetspoor vader". www.peperbus.nl.
- ^ "Broederliefde - Interview with Tijjani and Eliano Reijnders". June 2021.
- ^ "Tijjani Reijnders". Soccerway.
- ^ a b "Tijjani Reijnders". EU-Football.info. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
- ^ Bandini, Nicky (7 January 2025). "Sérgio Conceição sees instant impact in Milan's Supercoppa derby triumph". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
- ^ "The Athletic's end-of-season awards, 2024-25: Men's football". The Athletic’s. 28 May 2025.
External links
- Profile at the Manchester City F.C. website
- Profile at the Royal Dutch Football Association website (in Dutch)
- Tijjani Reijnders – UEFA competition record (archive)