After being the league's top scorer with SV Leo Victor with 14 goals during the 2010–2011 season,[3] in April 2011 Rijssel was offered a two-week trial with Belgium's Germinal Beerschot but ultimately was not signed by the club.
[11] Following the 3-day event, Rijssel was one of only two players selected to participate in the MLS Combine from 10 to 14 January in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, along with Quintón Christina of Curaçao,[12] because of their "impressive play".
[16][17] After drafting Rijssel, Sounders' assistant coach and scout Kurt Schmid said, "he showed good tactical sense as well as physical qualities.
[10] It was then reported that Rijssel would attend the opening of Seattle's training camp scheduled for four days after the draft but was still under contract with W Connection so a deal for a loan or purchase of the player would have to be negotiated.
However, he stated that MLS officials had already contacted him to establish parameters for a transfer if Seattle decided to sign Rijssel and that an offer would be made after the two-week training camp was finished.
[19] Before departing for preseason camp in Arizona, Rijssel earned the fastest time for the 30-meter dash during club fitness tests.
[27] The team then went on to defeat Real Hope FA of Haiti in a play-off match to qualify for the preliminary round of the 2019 CONCACAF League.
[4] The trial meant that Rijssel would miss Robinhood's CONCACAF League away fixture against AS Capoise in Haiti after earning a 0–0 draw at home in the first leg.
[35] However, Rijssel was held scoreless in losses against the United States and Panama in the final round of the tournament and Suriname failed to qualify for the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
[1] Rijssel made his first senior appearance for Suriname on 13 October 2010 in a 2–1 victory over the Netherlands Antilles national football team in the 2010 Caribbean Championship.
[1] Rijssel has worn the #9 on his national jersey,[37] the number typically reserved for a player who is the team's pure goal scorer and target striker.