For Tijjani Reijnders, his move to Manchester City made a dream come true: playing in the Premier League. "I've always dreamed of the Premier League, watching Match of the Day on Sunday mornings."
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For Tijjani Reijnders, joining Manchester City wasn’t just another step in his professional career it was the realization of a lifelong dream rooted deep in his childhood.
Long before he wore the shirts of AZ Alkmaar, AC Milan, or the Netherlands national team, Reijnders was just a young boy in the Netherlands, waking up early on Sunday mornings to watch Match of the Day, eyes glued to the screen, captivated by the pace, the drama, and the star power of the Premier League.
“I’ve always dreamed of playing in the Premier League,” Reijnders told City Magazine. “I remember watching Match of the Day every Sunday morning. It wasn’t just about the highlights it was the whole experience. The stadiums, the atmosphere, the tempo of the game it all felt bigger than life. I knew from early on that I wanted to be a part of that.”
And while the league as a whole fascinated him, it was the Dutch stars who had conquered England that truly captured his imagination.
“I always paid special attention to the Dutch players,” he explained. “Robin van Persie, Dennis Bergkamp they weren’t just great footballers, they were role models. Players you looked up to as a kid. They were icons in the Netherlands. Every child who loved football wanted to be like them. Their style, their intelligence, the way they made the game look effortless it was mesmerizing.”
Van Persie’s lethal finishing and Bergkamp’s silky technique left a profound impact on Reijnders’ footballing identity. It wasn’t just admiration it was inspiration. “I would try to imitate them in the park with my friends,” he smiled. “Of course, it never looked the same, but they made you want to dream bigger. They made you believe that, one day, you could be there too.”
But beyond the individual brilliance of his fellow countrymen, Reijnders’ greatest source of footballing inspiration came from a name etched into the very soul of Dutch football: Johan Cruyff.
“Cruyff is one of the greatest players our country has ever produced,” he said. “But he was much more than just a player. He was a thinker, a visionary. You can still see his fingerprints on modern football even here at Manchester City.”
Pep Guardiola’s City is widely viewed as a spiritual continuation of Cruyff’s footballing ideology: positional play, intelligent movement, control through possession, and pressing with precision. It’s no coincidence, then, that Reijnders sees this club as a natural fit. “The way we train, the way we move, the structure it’s all influenced by the ideas that Cruyff pioneered. That connection is real.”
Reijnders wears the number 14 shirt at Manchester City a number synonymous with Cruyff and with Dutch football as a whole. “I’ve worn it at AC Milan and with the national team,” he noted. “But it’s not just a number. It represents a style, a philosophy. Total football. Intelligence, elegance, responsibility. Choosing it is my way of showing respect for what he gave to the game.”
But Reijnders doesn’t admire Cruyff solely for what he did with a ball at his feet. What touches him even more is the way Cruyff carried himself off the pitch.
“What really stands out to me is how grounded he remained,” Reijnders said. “Despite everything he achieved, he stayed humble. He treated people with respect. That’s something that really resonates with me. And it’s something my parents taught me from a young age.”
Growing up in a tight-knit family, humility wasn’t optional it was expected. “My parents always reminded us never to feel superior,” Reijnders explained. “They taught us to stay grounded, to treat people well, and to never look down on anyone especially those going through tough times. Just because you're doing well doesn't mean you're better than someone else. We were raised to believe that.”
That mindset has helped Reijnders navigate the often unpredictable world of football. From the youth academies in the Netherlands to his breakthrough at AZ Alkmaar, to the move to AC Milan, and now to Manchester City he’s never lost sight of where he came from. Even as he reaches new heights, he remains connected to his roots, grounded in the values that shaped him.
“Playing for Manchester City is a dream come true,” he said. “But it’s not the end of the story. It’s just the beginning. I want to grow here. I want to earn my place and contribute to this incredible team. I want to keep learning, keep improving.”
At City, Reijnders joins a squad full of world-class talent, guided by one of the greatest minds in modern football. Yet, he arrives not as a wide-eyed newcomer, but as a player who understands the responsibility that comes with wearing a shirt like this and the legacy that comes with the number 14.
He’s not just here to play. He’s here to honor those who inspired him, to stay true to the values instilled in him by his family, and to one day, perhaps, inspire the next generation watching Match of the Day on a quiet Sunday morning.
