Reijnders leaves Man City for Saudi's Al Qadsiah

Riyadh: Dutch midfielder Tijjani Reijnders transferred from Manchester City to Saudi Pro League side Al Qadsiah on Wednesday in a 61 million euros (US$71 million) deal. An AFP reporter observed Reijnders arrive at the club's headquarters in Al Khobar on Tuesday before the official announcement by both teams. A native of the Netherlands, Reijnders participated in the recent World Cup and has signed a contract extending to 2031.

He still had four years remaining on his City deal after joining the Premier League club from AC Milan in June 2025. He trained independently from the first-team squad last week and missed City's 3-0 loss to Arsenal in the FA Community Shield.

Reijnders' departure follows a major midfield overhaul at City following Rodri's move to Barcelona, with Manchester City reportedly considering Chelsea and Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernandez. During the 2023-2024 season, Reijnders played 47 matches across all competitions for City, scoring seven goals. Under former City manager Pep Guardiola, he helped the club secure the FA Cup and League Cup titles.

Reijnders expressed his gratitude in a statement from the club, stating that being part of the squad that won two prestigious trophies last season was a privilege and a cherished memory. Al Qadsiah, backed by the Saudi state-owned oil company Aramco and coached by former Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, welcomed the midfielder.