Tijjani Reijnders is leaving Manchester City for Al-Qadsiah just over a year after he arrived, with City confirming a £52m deal on August 19, 2026, subject to international clearance. The 28-year-old Netherlands international joined City from AC Milan for £46.5m in June 2025, signed a contract valid until 2030, and now departs well before that deal was set to expire.
His move to the Saudi Pro League follows days after he was left out of new City manager Enzo Maresca’s squad for the Community Shield, a 3-0 defeat by Arsenal. That public omission effectively ended his time in Manchester, and Al-Qadsiah, managed by Brendan Rodgers, moved quickly to complete the deal.
The deal itself
City will receive £52m for a player they bought for £46.5m just 14 months earlier, a modest profit on the transaction. Reijnders is reported to have signed a five-year contract with Al-Qadsiah, according to BBC Sport’s Alex Brotherton and confirmed via Manchester City’s official website and CityXtra. The move remains subject to international clearance before it is fully processed.
Al-Qadsiah are managed by Brendan Rodgers, who previously took charge of Liverpool and Celtic before moving to the Saudi Pro League.
Why the move happened
Reijnders made 50 appearances for City across all competitions, scoring 7 goals, and was part of the squad that won the FA Cup and Carabao Cup in the 2025/26 season. By most standards, that is a productive first year at a major club. Maresca clearly does not see Reijnders fitting his plans, though, and his absence from the Community Shield squad made that plain.
The same summer has seen Rodri leave for Barcelona for £65m and Bernardo Silva depart on a free transfer to Real Madrid, a substantial reshaping of City’s midfield. City also recruited Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for a club record £116m in June, per CityXtra, which helps explain why Reijnders found himself surplus to requirements before his second season had even begun.
Reijnders at City: the highlights
Reijnders made an immediate impression after joining, scoring on his Premier League debut in a 4-0 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers. He contributed across both cup runs that gave Guardiola a fitting send-off in what turned out to be the Spaniard’s final season in charge. Seven goals in 50 appearances from a central midfielder is a reasonable return, particularly in a system as demanding as City’s.
Internationally, Reijnders started all three of the Netherlands’ group-stage matches at the 2026 World Cup, though he was an unused substitute as his country lost to Morocco in the last 32. He now has 35 caps for the Netherlands, and at 28, consistent playing time is increasingly important to his development.
What both clubs are saying
Reijnders said in a statement released by the club: “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. To be part of the squad that won two such special trophies last season were both incredible experiences and achievements that I will savour forever. I may be moving on but I will always have a special place in my heart for Manchester City.”
City Director of Football Hugo Viana added: “Tijjani more than made his mark across his time here at Manchester City. He impressed everyone with his talent, application, hard work and total dedication and was the perfect professional. And he played a very important part across both our successful campaigns in the Carabao Cup and FA Cup. We thank Tijjani for everything he has done here and wish him every success as he now embarks on the next stage of his career.”
FAQ
How much did Manchester City sell Tijjani Reijnders for?
Manchester City sold Reijnders to Al-Qadsiah for £52m, confirmed on August 19, 2026. City had originally signed him from AC Milan for £46.5m in June 2025.
How long is Reijnders’s contract at Al-Qadsiah?
Reijnders is reported to have signed a five-year contract with Al-Qadsiah in the Saudi Pro League.
How many games did Reijnders play for Manchester City?
Reijnders made 50 appearances for Manchester City across all competitions, scoring 7 goals, and won the FA Cup and Carabao Cup during the 2025/26 season.