How do you replace the irreplaceable? That is the monumental question facing Manchester City as they enter a new, uncertain era without the creative genius of Kevin De Bruyne. For nearly a decade, the Belgian maestro was the heartbeat of the team, a Premier League icon whose vision and execution defined an era of unprecedented success. His departure, coupled with the club’s first trophyless season in eight years, has created a palpable sense of transition at the Etihad Stadium.
In response, Manchester City have made their first major move, securing the signature of AC Milan’s Tijjani Reijnders for a reported £46.3 million. It is crucial to understand that Reijnders is not a like-for-like clone of De Bruyne—no such player exists. Instead, he is a highly intelligent, specialist signing whose unique combination of skills is meticulously designed to plug the specific creative and dynamic gaps left by the departure of a legend. This tactical analysis delves into the data to explore exactly what the Dutch midfielder will bring to Pep Guardiola’s system.
The End of an Era: The Colossal Boots De Bruyne Leaves Behind
The challenge of moving on from Kevin De Bruyne cannot be overstated. He was far more than just his goals and assists; he was the team’s primary offensive architect. His ability to see passes that no one else could, and to execute them with pinpoint precision, was the key that unlocked countless stubborn defences. His departure leaves a colossal void not just in terms of final product, but in the fundamental way City progress the ball into dangerous areas. The club has had some time to prepare for this moment on the field, with injuries limiting De Bruyne to starting less than half of the Premier League matches over his final two seasons. However, having a plan to cope without him and having a permanent solution are two different things. While Manchester City’s squad is packed with attacking talent, none possess the Belgian’s specific profile. The signing of Tijjani Reijnders is the first, critical step in addressing this creative deficit and reshaping the midfield for the future.
The Line-Breaking Visionary: Replicating De Bruyne’s Passing
One of Kevin De Bruyne’s most valuable assets was his unparalleled ability to break defensive lines with a single pass. Tijjani Reijnders, according to the data, is one of the very best in Europe in this specific regard. During the 2024/25 Serie A season, the 26-year-old broke the opposition’s last defensive line with a pass a staggering 47 times—more than any other player in the entire league. This demonstrates an elite eye for a defence-splitting ball. His vision extends deeper too; he ranked seventh in Serie A for breaking the opposition’s midfield line (147 times) and was third among non-defenders for breaking two lines with a single pass (26 times).
These statistics paint a picture of a player who is constantly looking to play forward, to be incisive, and to progress the ball into dangerous areas. Interestingly, the data also shows that only a small percentage (4.4%) of these line-breaking passes led directly to a chance on goal. At AC Milan, his passes often went from a central position out towards the wings. However, this is where the context of playing for Manchester City becomes critical. With the world-class, intelligent movement of a striker like Erling Haaland making runs in behind, it is highly likely that many of Reijnders’ “pre-assists” will be converted into direct assists. He has proven he can unlock the door; at Manchester City, he will have elite finishers waiting on the other side.
The Goal-Scoring Ghost: A New Threat from Midfield
Beyond his passing, Reijnders offers a significant goal threat from a deeper position, another quality that will help offset the loss of De Bruyne’s output. He enjoyed the most prolific season of his career in 2024/25, scoring 10 league goals for an underperforming AC Milan side. This was a tally bettered by only one other central midfielder in the entire Serie A. His impressive goal return is not accidental; it is the result of intelligent movement and a willingness to make late, ghosting runs into the penalty area.
He is adept at running beyond the striker, providing a vertical threat that disrupts defensive structures. This is evidenced by his remarkable shot volume. With 77 shots over the season, he ranked 10th among all players in Serie A and was first among all non-strikers. This demonstrates a consistent ability and desire to get into positions where he can threaten the opposition’s goal. For a Manchester City team that sometimes faced packed defences, having a midfielder who can provide a secondary, unexpected source of goals from deep runs will be an invaluable new weapon in their tactical arsenal.
The Dynamic Ball Carrier: Driving City Forward
In a Pep Guardiola system, what a midfielder does on the ball is just as important as what they do with their passing. Reijnders excels as a progressive ball carrier, a player who can receive the ball under pressure and drive the team forward. In the 2024/25 Serie A season, he ranked fifth for total carries (561), and of the top 20 players in this metric, only one averaged more distance per carry than Reijnders (11.8m). Crucially, these are not aimless dribbles; they are vertical and purposeful.
He ranked second among all non-defenders in Serie A for progressive carries (moving at least five metres towards the opposition goal) with 275. He is not just a passenger in possession; he is an engine, actively breaking lines with the ball at his feet. This skill makes him incredibly press-resistant and allows him to turn a defensive situation into an attack in a matter of seconds. This ability to carry the ball through congested central areas is a hallmark of great Manchester City midfielders, and it’s a quality Reijnders possesses in abundance.
The Defensive Question: A Specialist Role Alongside Rodri
No player profile is complete without assessing their weaknesses, and for all his attacking prowess, Reijnders’ defensive numbers are notably low for a central midfielder. His rate of 0.8 tackles per 90 minutes was the lowest among regular midfielders in Serie A last season. However, Manchester City have likely viewed this not as a fatal flaw, but as a calculated trade-off. They are not signing him to be a defensive enforcer; that is the undisputed role of Rodri, arguably the world’s best defensive midfielder.
Reijnders is being signed to play a specialist attacking role, likely as a number 8 alongside the Spaniard. In Manchester City’s possession-dominant system, where they often have over 70% of the ball, a midfielder’s primary role is offensive. They are betting that Reijnders’ elite contributions in passing, goal-scoring, and ball-carrying will far outweigh his modest defensive output, especially when shielded by a player of Rodri’s calibre. It is a strategic gamble that prioritizes offensive firepower, trusting their system to compensate for his defensive limitations.
