🦁 Premier League Participant of the Week: A masterful debut

The Premier League is again.

After what appeared like no time in any respect, the English prime flight returned this weekend with 10 absorbing video games and numerous spectacular performances.

However our Participant of the Week is …

Tijjani Reijnders (Manchester Metropolis

📸 Alex Pantling – 2025 Getty Photos

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When Manchester Metropolis travelled to Molineux on the opening weekend of the 2025/26 Premier League season, most anticipated Erling Haaland, the opening day grasp, to dominate the headlines.

As a substitute, it was new signing Tijjani Reijnders who produced a debut of staggering authority in Metropolis’s 4-0 victory over Wolves, instantly marking himself out because the standout participant of matchday one throughout the division.

Reijnders was not simply efficient in his first Premier League look, however decisive as properly.

The Dutch worldwide scored Metropolis’s second aim with a composed end simply minutes after Haaland’s opener wherein he was the participant to interrupt between the strains and set the transfer in movement.

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Later he added an help, slicing again for Haaland to strike once more, and in doing so grew to become solely the second participant in Metropolis’s historical past, after Sergio Agüero, to each rating and help on his Premier League debut.

His affect was felt far past the ultimate third, although. Reijnders accomplished over 91 per cent of his passes, orchestrated play with 82 touches and carried the ball ahead 17 instances, greater than every other Metropolis midfielder and bettered throughout the league by just one different attacking participant.

Six of these carries noticed the midfielder go greater than 10 metres, demonstrating his means not simply to mindlessly recycle possession however to actively progress it in the very best approach.

Sure, Reijnders could have been statistically dominate however you simply needed to watch with your personal eyes to see an unbelievable midfielder Man Metropolis have purchased for the discount value of €60m.

There was a poise to his motion, a way of management at any time when he was on the ball and a readiness to set the rhythm of play.

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Metropolis have lengthy relied on Kevin De Bruyne to dictate tempo and carve open defences, however Reijnders confirmed he isn’t there simply change and imitate the Belgian – he is there to supply one thing new.

While De Bruyne was typically about explosive creativity, Reijnders balanced incision with persistence in possession and by no means allowed Wolves themselves to decide on the ball.

Coach Pep Guardiola was fast to reward his composure and technical brilliance to the BBC post-game, saying: “Not simply at the moment, in Palermo (a 3-0 pre-season win) he performed actually good. He’s a typical participant we want within the Premier League. He’s an unimaginable, large signing for us.

“His work ethic, a holding midfielder occupies a number of areas after which after the management with the ball and his actions. After which he’s attempting to get in behind and rating – actually happy.”

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Metropolis entered this season beneath strain after a uncommon trophyless marketing campaign, burdened by questions on whether or not their dominance was beginning to slip.

At Molineux, Reijnders appeared just like the spark Guardiola’s facet wanted to reassert themselves and present that final time period was an entire aberration.

📸 Alex Pantling – 2025 Getty Photos