Tijjani Reijnders’ Manchester City career began with a flourish, and after a difficult middle stretch, it is finding momentum again. The £46.3m summer arrival from AC Milan caught the eye on his Premier League debut at Wolves, gliding through midfield, assisting Rico Lewis and scoring himself. That performance hinted at another transfer masterstroke, but consistency proved harder to find in the months that followed.
The Dutch midfielder arrived at the Etihad on the back of his most prolific season, scoring 15 goals in all competitions for Milan, including 10 in Serie A. Expectations were high that he would add goals from midfield, yet after that opening-day strike, Reijnders went more than three months without finding the net. At the same time, City’s heavy dependence on Erling Haaland became increasingly obvious, something Pep Guardiola openly addressed after a November defeat to Newcastle.
Guardiola’s message was clear: goals had to come from elsewhere. Since then, City’s response has been emphatic. Phil Foden has rediscovered his scoring touch, and Reijnders has followed suit, ending his drought in a chaotic 5-4 win at Fulham before adding another crucial goal against Nottingham Forest. His strike at the City Ground typified a modern attacking midfielder — intelligent movement, late runs into the box and a calm finish.
The results underline the shift. City have won eight of their last nine matches, and several of those victories have come without Haaland on the scoresheet. That balance could prove decisive in the title race. If City are to reclaim the Premier League crown, they need contributions across the pitch, and Reijnders is now showing he can deliver exactly what Guardiola demanded.
