Tijjani Reijnders is reportedly set to leave Manchester City for Saudi Pro League side Al-Qadsiah in a deal worth around £52m, just one season after joining the club. Neither club has officially announced the transfer. City are said to have agreed a fee for the 28-year-old Netherlands international, who cost them £46.5m when he arrived from AC Milan last summer. Reijnders trained apart from the main squad on Thursday, the clearest sign yet that the move is at an advanced stage.
What we know about the Reijnders deal
The reported fee is £52m, meaning City would turn a modest profit on a midfielder they signed for £46.5m twelve months ago. The clubs are understood to have agreed terms on the fee, but until an official announcement lands, the move is not done.
Al-Qadsiah are now managed by a coach with a Liverpool background and have been among the more active recruiters in the Saudi Pro League. Reijnders training separately from the main City group on Thursday is the kind of detail that usually signals a transfer in its final stages.
A season that never quite took off at City
Reijnders finished his single season at the Etihad with seven goals in 47 appearances. Respectable output for a midfielder, but not the kind of return that locks down a starting place in a City midfield.
He made a bright start after arriving from AC Milan, then gradually faded during what turned out to be Pep Guardiola’s final season in charge. Squad members who sat outside the guaranteed starting eleven were always going to be vulnerable to a change of manager and a change of playing style.
What it means for the Premier League market
For Premier League clubs, a £52m bid from Saudi Arabia for a squad midfielder is a useful accounting outcome. Sales generate pure profit under Profit and Sustainability Rules in a way that player purchases do not, which makes Saudi interest a genuine lever for clubs managing their spending headroom.
It also raises the floor on what English clubs can expect for players in the 26-to-30 bracket. The Saudi Pro League has been buying from the Premier League since 2023, and every deal at this level sets a new reference price for the next round of negotiations.
The Netherlands question after the 2026 World Cup
Reijnders was part of the Netherlands squad at the 2026 World Cup, and a move to Saudi Arabia inevitably raises questions about international selection. Playing outside Europe’s top leagues means fewer weekly tests against elite midfielders.
National team managers have not ruled out Saudi-based players in recent years, but competition in the Dutch midfield is fierce. How quickly Reijnders settles at Al-Qadsiah will shape whether he stays in the picture for the next qualifying cycle.
FAQ
Is the Tijjani Reijnders transfer confirmed?
No. Neither Manchester City nor Al-Qadsiah has made an official announcement. City are reported to have agreed a fee of around £52m, but the move is not yet confirmed.
How much is the reported fee?
Around £52m. Manchester City signed Reijnders from AC Milan for £46.5m last summer, so the deal would represent a small profit on the original outlay.
Which club is he joining?
Al-Qadsiah of the Saudi Pro League. The club is currently managed by a coach with a background at Liverpool.
What was his record at Manchester City?
Seven goals in 47 appearances across all competitions in one season. He started brightly but struggled to make a lasting impact during Pep Guardiola’s final season at the club.
How old is Reijnders and what position does he play?
He is 28 and plays in midfield. A Netherlands international, he was part of the Dutch squad at the 2026 World Cup.
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