Tijjani Reijnders explains why he chose Milan

Tijjani Reijnders, first words as a rossonero

Milan’s next reinforcement, Tijjani Reijnders, landed at Linate airport late Monday evening. The Dutchman will undergo medical examinations on Tuesday morning on behalf of the Rossoneri club, following which he will then be able to sign the contract and begin his new sporting adventure in the Italian league.

Interviewed by reporters from ‘Milan News,’ the midfielder who will turn 25 on July 29 explained his decision to say yes to Milan: “I accepted at the first call, it was an easy decision. I did it because my dream is to win the Champions League and the Scudetto here.”

Reijnders, class of 1998, is named Tijjani in honor of Tijjani Babangida, an explosive Nigerian winger of the 1990s-2000s, with the pinnacle of his career experienced at Ajax. Milan’s new midfielder is one of the reinforcements wanted by American ownership and joins Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Luka Romero, and Christian Pulisic.

Before arriving at AC Milan, Reijnders played professionally with the shirts of PEC Zwolle (his hometown team), RKC Waalwijk and AZ Alkmaar. With the ‘Kaasboeren’ he played five and a half seasons, first as part of the ‘Jong’ team and then in the main lineup playing in the Eredivisie.

The agreement with the Alkmaar club, which initially had been reluctant before proceeding with the negotiation, had come in recent days: outright transfer, in exchange for 20 million euros plus another 5 million that will come upon the achievement of precise goals to be reached during the course of the season.