It’s a boy’s dream to play in the Premier League, says Reijnders | OneFootball

New City signing Tijjani Reijnders says he’s achieving a childhood dream by moving to England.

The 26-year-old has signed a five-year deal at the Etihad Stadium and is now available for selection at this summer's FIFA Club World Cup in the USA.

The addition of the Netherlands international midfielder is also part of Guardiola’s plans to challenge for a seventh Premier League title in nine years next season.

Speaking in his first interview as a City player, Reijnders made it clear that he’s ecstatic to be in the English top-flight.

WATCH: Watch: Reijnders’ first City interview!

“Everybody knows it’s the biggest competition in the world,” he began.

“If you see last season how many clubs are playing against each other for the top places, the level is incredibly high. It’s a boy’s dream to play in the Premier League.

“Playing in the Premier League and at that intensity, I want to feel the energy.

“I think you have to think even quicker here, especially when you play for Man City the spaces are even smaller. So that’s where I want to develop more and I’m looking forward to it.”

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Reijnders has already amassed significant experience at the top of the game, starring for AC Milan and the Netherlands in the last two years.

He played a key role in his nation’s run to the Euro 2024 semi-finals last summer before an excellent campaign in Italy earned him the Serie A Midfielder of the Year award in 2024/25.

With plenty of prominent midfielders plying their trade in Italy, the accolade proves Reijnders’ credentials as a special talent.

“It was a big honour, especially because we had a difficult season,” he said of the gong.

“To still be crowned as the best midfielder was a really big honour and I was of course very happy with that prize.”

Our new man is capable of playing anywhere in midfield – whether in an attacking or more defensively minded role.

But last term saw him deployed higher up the pitch and it bore fruit as he netted 15 times in 54 appearances.

That was more than twice as many as he had previously achieved in a season in his top-flight career at AZ Alkmaar and AC Milan.

Our new signing says adding goals to his game was something he had consciously worked on to reach a new level.

“I know as a midfielder it’s important to score goals as well,” he said.

“Two years ago I didn’t score that many goals in a season and I was working on it that summer, looking at what I had to do better in front of the goal and this season it worked out.”