Nathan Ake has voiced his confidence in Tijjani Reijnders' potential impact at Manchester City, following the fellow Dutchman's arrival from AC Milan. Ake's comments come on the heels of Reijnders' debut for the club at the FIFA Club World Cup.

Reijnders, 26, joined Manchester City last week for an initial £46.5 million, a move intended to bolster Pep Guardiola's squad after what was considered a disappointing 2024-25 season by the club's standards. He promptly featured in City's Club World Cup opening match against Wydad Casablanca in Philadelphia, playing the entire game in their 2-0 victory.

Ake, a central defender who has played alongside Reijnders for the Netherlands national team, expressed his high expectations for the midfielder. "I know him really well, and I think he can be very important," Ake stated. "I think from the first week in training, you could see that he fits in really well, and you can see the quality he has." He also highlighted Reijnders' versatility, noting, "He can play in different positions, he can get into the box, he can keep the ball going and moving forward. He has great quality and there's so much more to come."

Ake further commented on Reijnders' debut performance against Wydad, acknowledging the challenging circumstances but praising his ability to maintain possession and contribute both offensively and defensively. "He did really well. It was tough circumstances, but he kept the ball really well, kept us moving, and offensively he was very good," Ake said.

Reijnders' move to Manchester City marks a significant step in his career. Before joining the English club, he made a name for himself at AC Milan, where he showcased his abilities in Serie A. Prior to his time in Italy, Reijnders honed his skills in his native Netherlands, playing for clubs such as AZ Alkmaar and PEC Zwolle.

Manchester City's acquisition of Reijnders is seen as a strategic move to strengthen their midfield options, especially following the departure of Kevin De Bruyne. Reijnders is known as an energetic and versatile player, capable of contributing in both attacking and defensive roles. His ability to score goals, create chances, and control possession makes him a valuable asset for any team. In the 2024/2025 season, Reijnders played in 37 matches for AC Milan, scoring 10 goals.

Reijnders himself has expressed his excitement about joining Manchester City and working under Pep Guardiola. He stated that he wants to develop himself as a midfielder and win prizes with the team. Reijnders also noted that he is eager to learn from Guardiola and adapt to the team's playing style. "Everybody knows how Manchester City is playing in general with the playing style. Manchester City is playing, uh, being dominant on the pitch, uh, against the opponents, and yeah, playing attacking football, and yeah, that's, uh, what suits me the best," Reijnders said in his first interview with the club.

With Ake's endorsement and Reijnders' eagerness to contribute, the Dutch midfielder appears poised to make a significant impact at Manchester City in the seasons to come.