Tijjani Reijnders is set to leave Manchester City for Al Qadsiah after just one season at the Etihad. Fabrizio Romano reported a ‘here we go’ on August 13, 2026, with the fee set at €61 million, a profit on the £46.5 million City paid AC Milan for the Dutch midfielder in June 2025.
The clubs are exchanging documents ahead of formal signatures, according to Romano. Reijnders has agreed to the move and is not currently training with City while he awaits travel to Saudi Arabia. David Ornstein of The Athletic separately confirmed that a club-to-club agreement had been reached on the same date.
The deal itself
Romano put the agreed fee at €61 million, while The Independent and Goal.com cited a figure of £51 million. Manchester City, Al Qadsiah, and Reijnders all reached a verbal agreement before paperwork began. No official announcement had been made as of August 13.
Nottingham Forest also held serious interest in the 28-year-old Netherlands international, but Al Qadsiah moved faster and secured the transfer. The Saudi club are due to relocate to the Aramco Stadium, which is scheduled to host matches at the 2027 Asian Cup.
Why the move happened
Reijnders started only half of Manchester City’s Premier League matches in 2025-26. That was a sharp contrast to his final season at AC Milan, where he started 63 of 64 games and was voted Serie A’s midfielder of the year. The drop in playing time appears to have been the driving factor behind his departure.
City’s midfield heading into 2026-27 is complicated. Bernardo Silva left on a free transfer to Real Madrid this summer, and Rodri’s future remains uncertain amid reported interest from Barcelona. City signed Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116 million to partially address that gap, and Anderson’s arrival pushed Reijnders further down the depth chart.
What Reijnders brought to the table
Before joining the Etihad, Reijnders had built a strong reputation as a central midfielder in European football. At Milan he scored 15 goals in all competitions in his final season, combining box-to-box work with the technical quality that earned him Serie A’s midfielder of the year award.
His one season at City produced either five goals and two assists or seven goals and seven assists across 47 appearances, depending on the source. Whichever figure is accurate, the output was reasonable for a player who was not always guaranteed a starting spot. At 28, he moves to Saudi Arabia at a point when most midfielders in European football are considered to be in their prime years.
What it means for Al Qadsiah
Reijnders is a notable addition for Al Qadsiah, who are investing in both infrastructure and playing talent ahead of their move to the Aramco Stadium. Bringing in a player who was Serie A’s midfielder of the year as recently as 2025 reflects real ambition within the Saudi Pro League.
For Manchester City, the sale turns a profit on a player bought just over a year ago, freeing up funds as the club manages uncertainty around Rodri’s future. Midfield has been the most active area of the squad this summer, and the Reijnders sale continues that pattern.
FAQ
How much is Manchester City selling Tijjani Reijnders for?
The agreed fee is €61 million, according to Fabrizio Romano. The Independent and Goal.com reported the figure as £51 million.
How old is Tijjani Reijnders and what position does he play?
Reijnders is 28 years old and plays as a central midfielder. He is a Netherlands international.
Has the Reijnders to Al Qadsiah transfer been officially confirmed?
As of August 13, 2026, all parties have reached a verbal agreement and clubs are exchanging documents, but an official announcement has not yet been made. Fabrizio Romano issued his ‘here we go’ confirmation on that date.