Manchester City have formally reached an agreement to sell Dutch midfielder Tijjani Reijnders to Saudi Pro League outfit Al Qadsiah in a deal valued at approximately £52 million. The transfer will see the 28-year-old midfielder bring a swift end to his time at the Etihad Stadium after just a single campaign in English football, opening a fresh chapter in his professional career in the Middle East.
Reports from transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano confirm that Manchester City management accepted the substantial offer from Al Qadsiah, bringing the transfer to its final stages. Reijnders is now scheduled to undergo his medical tests and finalize personal terms before completing his formal signing with the Saudi Arabian side, which is currently managed by former Premier League manager Brendan Rodgers.
Recouping Investment After A Mixed Campaign
Reijnders initially completed a high-profile transfer to Manchester City from Italian powerhouses AC Milan for a fee of £46.5 million. The Dutch international had arrived in England following a stunning season in Italy, where he earned the honor of being named Serie A's top midfielder after generating 15 goals and starting 63 of 64 competitive fixtures for Milan.
Upon arriving in Manchester, Reijnders showed early signs of promise within Pep Guardiola's system. Across the entire campaign, the versatile midfielder made 47 appearances in all competitions for the club. In matches where he featured prominently in the attacking third, Tijjani Reijnders scored seven goals for Manchester City, showing flashes of his goal-scoring threat from midfield. However, he struggled to maintain a consistent influence on matches as the season progressed.
Despite the mixed debut campaign, the agreement represents a shrewd financial move for the Premier League side. Selling Reijnders for £52 million allows Manchester City to recoup a fee roughly £5.5 million higher than what they paid to acquire him a year prior. Clear signs of the impending departure were evident when Reijnders was absent from Manchester City's recent first-team training session. While Nottingham Forest had launched an active pursuit to keep the midfielder in the Premier League, and both Juventus and Galatasaray monitored his situation, Al Qadsiah ultimately won the race for his signature.
International Experience And Ongoing Midfield Overhaul
On the international stage, Reijnders recently represented the Netherlands at the World Cup, where he earned three appearances in group stage fixtures against Japan, Sweden, and Tunisia. However, he remained on the bench during the Round of 16 encounter, where the Dutch squad suffered a heartbreaking elimination via a penalty shootout against Morocco.
For Al Qadsiah, securing Reijnders represents one of the most high-profile marquee additions in the club's recent history. For Manchester City, the sale marks the beginning of a broader midfield restructuring following a turbulent domestic campaign. The club is actively evaluating options to revamp its engine room, especially amidst persistent interest from Barcelona in cornerstone midfielder Rodri. Furthermore, Manchester City have been linked with Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez, though Etihad officials have publicly denied submitting any formal contract offer for the Argentine international. With Reijnders officially departing, Manchester City continue to work through vital squad decisions ahead of the upcoming campaign.