Tijjani Reijnders has revealed that he is christened after former Nigerian forward Tijani Babangida because of his parent’s love for the name.
The Dutch midfielder has absolutely no ties to the most populous African nation, but his parents apparently were huge admirers of Tijani, who had an outstanding spell in the Netherlands.
“There is a football player from Ajax His name is Tijani Babangida and my parents liked his first name and that is, ” Reijnders said in the video on X.
Tijani Babangida
Tijani Babangida spent nine years in the Netherlands, playing for VVV-Venlo, Roda JC, Vitesse, and Dutch giants Ajax.
He was known for his pace and his playing style was sometimes juxtaposed with that of Dutch great Marc Overmars.
His Place And Date Of Birth Alongside Position In Football
The 50-year-old was born in Kaduna, Nigeria on September 25, 1973, and he played primarily as a winger during his scintillating career.
Tijani Babangida’s Career Stats
Tijani Babangida made 225 club appearances, scoring 59 goals and providing 29 assists across all competitions.
Internationally, the 50-year-old made 26 appearances for Nigeria, scoring 5 goals and providing no assist.
Trophies Won In His Career
He had a relatively successful active football career winning several trophies, including; 1 Eredivisie, 2 KNVB Cup, and 1 Turkish Cup.
Tijani was amongst Nigeria’s contingent that won the gold medal at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, United States Of America.
His Siblings
Tijani Babangida was born into a large family in Kaduna, Nigeria and two of his nine brothers, Ibrahim and Haruna were also footballers.
Ibrahim Babangida spent five years at Dutch side Volendam, while the latter became the youngest-ever player in the history of Spanish football to have a buy-out clause inserted in his contract.
Haruna Babangida is also the second youngest player to appear for FC Barcelona when he made his debut in 1998 as a 15-year-old.
Reports indicate that Tijani has been working as a football agent since he retired from football in 2004.
Painfully for Tijani and Haruna, their brother Ibrahim died in an accident in May 2025, after the retired Ajax man and Ibrahim were involved in a traffic collision in Zaria.
Tijani Babangida’s Ex-Wife And Wife
Moreover, Tijani Babangida was previously married to Rabah, the sister of Daniel Amokachi’s wife, who hails from Tunisia.
He is currently married to Kannywood actress, Maryam Waziri, with their young son reported to have died recently.
Tijjani Reijnders
Meanwhile, Tijjani Reijnders, who is currently engaged with Euro 2024 duties with the Netherlands currently plays for Italian giants AC Milan.
The Parents Of Tijjani Reijnders Who Named Him After Retired Nigerian Footballer Tijani Babangida
Reijnders, 25, was born in Zwolle, Netherlands, on July 29, 1998, and he is the son of father Martin Reijnders, a retired footballer, and mother Angelina Lekatompessy, who hails from Indonesia.
Reijnders Sibling
Tijjani Reijnders brother, Eliano Reijnders, is also a footballer and he plays for Eredivisie side PEC Zwolle.
Tijjani’s Style Of Play
Tijjani Reijnders is a mobile central midfielder, who has the desire to bump forward into the final third and the opposition’s penalty area.
The Dutchman apparently understands what it means to screen a backline in search of spaces to exploit, he can also make attempts at scoring or to press opponents.
Reijnders Current Club
Tijjani can also function in the defensive midfield and attacking midfield department, and he joined AC Milan from AZ Alkmaar on July 19, 2023, for a fee of €19 million.
His Current Market Value And Contract Details
Tijjani Reijnders’ current market value is €30 million and his contract with AC Milan runs until June 2028, having penned a five-year deal when he arrived last summer.
Tijjani Reijnders Salary And Net Worth
He earns about €40,000 at the Milan-based club, while his net worth is estimated to be within the region of €3 million – €7 million.
Tijjani Reijnders Career Stats
Tijjani has made 187 club appearances thus far in his career, scoring 17 goals and providing 20 assists in all competitions.
Internationally, Tijjani Reijnders has made 10 appearances for the Netherlands, scoring 1 goal and providing 1 assist.
