Manchester City’s Tijjani Reijnders is battling for a place in Netherlands’ midfield ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch and Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong also vying for a place.
The 26-year-old has made a strong start to life at the Etihad Stadium after joining Manchester City from AC Milan for £46 million in June, with Pep Guardiola and co attempting to mitigate the significant loss of Kevin De Bruyne, who was let go for free this summer.
Reijnders produced an all-time great Premier League debut in Manchester City’s 4-0 win away at Wolves on the opening day of the 2025-26 season, scoring and setting up Erling Haaland in what remains arguably City’s best attacking display this term.
The Dutch star has since been unable to replicate his impactful, cutting-edge displays as Manchester City underwent a post-Wolves slump with successive losses to Tottenham and Brighton that pushed the Blues into the lower half of the Premier League table.
However, Guardiola has retained his faith in Reijnders, who has forged an eye-catching relationship with Manchester City talisman Erling Haaland, who has single-handedly clawed his side back to fifth place in the Premier League table since the September international break.
Reijnders has formed part of Guardiola’s preferred midfield trio so far this season – alongside Bernardo Silva and Rodri – and the 26-year-old will inevitably take some to adapt and adjust to Guardiola’s demands as Manchester City undergo a period of transition on the pitch in the backdrop of a sliding doors transfer window.
City return to Premier League duties this weekend as Jack Grealish prepares for an emotional return to his parent club with Everton, who signed Manchester City’s £100 million signing on a season-long loan with an option to buy in the summer.
As Reijnders looks to stamp his mark on the Manchester City first-team in his debut season in England, former Dutch footballer and current Vitesse assistant coach Theo Janssen has tipped Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman to look past Reijnders in the National Team midfield ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
“That’s not the midfield (Reijnders, Frenkie de Jong and Ryan Gravenberch) I dream of,” said Janssen, as quoted by Soccer News and relayed by Sport Witness. “You need different types in midfield. They’re very similar because they rely on positional play.
“It’s actually good to have a Justin Kluivert type in there. He can play a through ball, score a goal, and dive into the gaps. I think Reijnders will be the victim. He’s a very good player. Only Frenkie de Jong is undisputed.
“Gravenberch is really good at staying close, winning possessions, and playing duels. But he is also fantastic at getting open and playing forward. Frenkie (de Jong) and Gravenberch complement each other; they simply fit together best.”
Reijnders is expected to report for Manchester City training on Thursday as Guardiola and co begin their preparations for the visit of the Toffees amidst a rich vein of form for City, who have avoided defeat in all competitions since August.
