Tijjani Reijnders has completed a permanent transfer from Manchester City to Saudi Arabian club Al-Qadsiah in a deal reported at £52m, ending a stay of just over a year at the Etihad Stadium. The 28-year-old Netherlands midfielder had a contract running until 2030, but his exit was finalised this week after City agreed terms with the Saudi Pro League side.
According to The Athletic, the agreement between the two clubs was reached and the switch treated as done by 19 August 2026, with Al-Qadsiah's own social media channels confirming the signing on the same date, as noted by 101 Great Goals. Dutch outlet Voetbalprimeur reported the fee at roughly €61m, a figure that does not match the £52m widely cited elsewhere, meaning the exact valuation of the deal remains disputed depending on the source.
How did his time at Manchester City unfold?
Reijnders arrived at City last summer for £46.5m from AC Milan but never fully established himself in Pep Guardiola's side. Across all competitions he made 50 appearances and scored seven goals, contributing to FA Cup and Carabao Cup triumphs during what turned out to be Guardiola's final campaign in charge of the club. Earlier reporting from a national broadcaster's football coverage had already framed the departure as a strikingly quick exit for a player who had only just settled into the squad the previous year.
On the international stage, Reijnders started all three of the Netherlands' group matches at the 2026 World Cup, though he did not feature when the team was eliminated by Morocco in the last 32, remaining an unused substitute in that fixture.
What did Reijnders say about leaving?
The midfielder used a farewell message to express gratitude for his time in Manchester.
"I have been incredibly privileged to play for Manchester City, and I have relished every minute of my time here."
"From the very moment I arrived, everyone at the club - players, coaches and staff - made me feel so welcome and a part of the Manchester City family."
"I would also like to say a special thank you to the City fans who were so warm and supportive both to me and my family."
Why is this happening now, and who is behind it at Al-Qadsiah?
City's new head coach Enzo Maresca had already omitted Reijnders from his matchday squad for Sunday's 3-0 Community Shield loss to Arsenal, a sign that the player's future at the club was already in doubt before the transfer was confirmed. At Al-Qadsiah, Reijnders will play under Brendan Rodgers, the former Liverpool and Celtic manager, and is reported to have agreed personal terms on a five-year contract. Separately, according to Football Transfers, the club had offered terms running through mid-2030 with an option to extend by a further year, a detail that differs slightly from the five-year length reported elsewhere.
How does this fit into City's wider midfield overhaul?
Reijnders becomes the third senior midfielder to leave City this summer, following Rodri's £65m move to Barcelona and Bernardo Silva's free transfer to Real Madrid after his contract expired. Coverage from Yardbarker has linked Reijnders' exit directly to City's efforts to reshape their midfield options, suggesting the departure may clear space for incoming additions. Spain international Nico Gonzalez has been linked with a switch to Newcastle, while City remain in advanced discussions with Lille over Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi and have not abandoned hopes of signing Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez.
What happens next?
With the framework of the deal agreed, the remaining steps reported before completion included the exchange of formal documents and a medical examination for Reijnders, according to The Hard Tackle. The Athletic's reporting also indicated that City's broader summer business is expected to continue in parallel, with further midfield decisions, including the Bouaddi and Fernandez situations, still to be resolved in the coming weeks.
- Tijjani Reijnders, 28, has completed a permanent move from Manchester City to Al-Qadsiah.
- The fee is reported as £52m by some outlets and around €61m by others, with the discrepancy unresolved.
- He made 50 appearances and scored seven goals for City, winning the FA Cup and Carabao Cup.
- He joins Brendan Rodgers' Al-Qadsiah on a contract reported as either five years or through mid-2030 with an extension option.
- His exit follows Rodri's move to Barcelona and Bernardo Silva's free transfer to Real Madrid this summer.
