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There have been promising signs shown by one Manchester City signing but there are also areas to improve

Originally posted on Esteemed Kompany | By Adam Marrett | Last updated Sep 7, 2025 10:15 AM ET

Tijjani Reijnders made a blistering start to life in the Premier League. He put in a man-of-the-match display against Wolves at Molineux as Manchester City began the 25/26 season with a 4-nil win. But following that performance, the Dutch international has struggled as his team went down to consecutive defeats to Tottenham and Brighton. What is clear is that Reijnders will be a quality player for Pep Guardiola’s side in time. The midfielder just needs time to adjust to life in the Premier League.

Tijjani Reijnders has shown flashes of the player he will become for Manchester City.

It is evident that Tijjani Reijnders will become an elite midfielder for Pep Guardiola’s side. His performance against Wolves showed exactly what he’ll bring to the Manchester City midfield. Reijnders grabbed a goal and an assist at Molineux. He also set up Erling Haaland’s opening goal of the season with a driving run and an exquisite ball to play in Rico Lewis to set up Halaand for a tap-in. That performance is the template for what Reijnders will become at City. The Dutch international should become a valuable goal-scoring midfielder for his new team. But his past two performances against Tottenham and Brighton show what he needs to improve to adapt to life in the Premier League.

Against Tottenham and Brighton, Reijnders was caught in possession on multiple occasions. That isn’t a significant concern or criticism of his play. It is just a fact of him adapting to the difference between Serie A and the Premier League. The time on the ball that exists in Italy isn’t prevalent in England. Once Reijnders adapts his game to this, he’ll be an infinitely more dangerous player.

Reijnders has sometimes been guilty of trying to force the play. Pep Guardiola prefers his team to maintain control of matches rather than play at full throttle. That facet of Reijnders’ game will improve as he plays more often for Manchester City. That also isn’t a significant concern.

Summary.

Tijjani Reijnders has played like a player who needs time to adapt to the Premier League and life in a Pep Guardiola side. That isn’t a surprise cause that is precisely what the Dutch midfielder is. He is a new signing who needs time, just like his team. There has been enough quality shown by Reijnders to demonstrate that he will be a significant weapon for Manchester City. Once he is fully adjusted to life at the Etihad, he could develop into one of the best midfielders in the Premier League. That is how high the ceiling is for Reijnders, and he should hit that level once he adjusts to his new surroundings and competition.

This article first appeared on Esteemed Kompany and was syndicated with permission.

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