Tijjani Reijnders names Arsenal and Manchester United legends as Premier League inspirations | OneFootball

Manchester City’s new summer signing Tijjani Reijnders has named legends of Manchester United and Arsenal as inspirations grown up.

The Dutch midfielder, who arrived at the Etihad Stadium from AC Milan earlier this summer, is settling into life in Manchester as preparations for the 2025/26 campaign continue to ramp up.

Reijnders was one of City’s marquee midfield acquisitions during the early weeks of the transfer window, alongside Lyon’s Rayan Cherki, as Pep Guardiola and his staff reshaped the engine room.

Reijnders’ arrival has been viewed by club insiders as part of a longer-term strategy to blend youthful technical quality with tactical intelligence in the middle of the park. A standout figure for the Netherlands in recent years, the 27-year-old impressed with his composure in possession, vertical passing, and ability to play in both deep and advanced midfield roles.

With Manchester City navigating a period of transition following the departure of Kevin De Bruyne on a free following the expiry of his Etihad contract and the uncertain long-term future of Ilkay Gündoğan and Bernardo Silva, Reijnders is expected to play a significant role from the outset.

Having trained with his new teammates throughout the summer in the United States for the FIFA Club World Cup and the first week of pre-season at the City Football Academy, the former AZ Alkmaar man is now preparing for his debut season with the club.

Manchester City face fellow City Football Group side Palermo in Sicily on 9 August, with Reijnders an option to start in the centre of the park alongside the likes of Phil Foden, Nico Gonzalez, Rodri, and more.

Speaking as part of Manchester City’s latest club magazine release for the month of August, Tijjani Reijnders has opened up on his image of the Premier League while growing up and how much of a dream come true the move is.

“I always dreamed of this and I think it was always on a Sunday morning that I saw the highlights on TV,” the Netherlands international admitted.

“I’d obviously have a lot of interest in Dutch players who were here, of course – Robin van Persie and Denis Bergkamp in particular – they were the sort of players you were looking at because they were huge stars in our country. As a kid, you want to emulate them,” he added.

“Now, being here with City and to be soon playing in the Premier League, it genuinely is a dream come true.”

Reijnders’ admiration for players such as those mentioned underscores a wider trend among City’s recent signings, players who grew up idolising Etihad stars and Premier League icons, while now fulfilling lifelong ambitions by joining Pep Guardiola’s side. For Reijnders, the challenge now is to emulate that same level of stardom, and carve out a legacy of his own.

While his tactical role is yet to be fully defined, early indications suggest Reijnders will rotate between advanced and box-to-box duties, potentially taking up responsibilities dominated by Bernardo Silva or Ilkay Gündoğan over the years.

With Manchester City keen to evolve beyond their treble-winning template and introduce greater midfield flexibility, the Dutchman’s arrival could prove vital in refreshing Pep Guardiola’s system heading into a demanding domestic and European calendar.

The coming weeks will also give Reijnders a platform to build chemistry with his teammates, particularly during training sessions at the City Football Academy and in next weekend’s friendly in Italy. If his early impressions are anything to go by, Reijnders may not take long to become a fan favourite.