Al-Qadsiah signs Tijjani Reijnders from Manchester City in £52m deal
Netherlands midfielder Tijjani Reijnders has completed a move to Saudi Arabian side Al-Qadsiah from Manchester City. The deal for Reijnders is reportedly worth £52 million. He had joined Manchester City last summer from AC Milan for £46.5 million.
Reijnders, who is 28 years old, spent just one season with Manchester City. During his time at the club, he made 50 appearances across all competitions and scored seven goals. He was part of the squad that secured both the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup during Pep Guardiola’s final season as manager.
The midfielder also featured for the Netherlands in the 2026 World Cup, starting all three of their group-stage matches. However, he was an unused substitute in their last-32 defeat against Morocco. Reports indicate that Reijnders has signed a five-year contract with Al-Qadsiah, a club managed by former Liverpool and Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers.
Reijnders’ Departure and City’s Midfield Changes
Reijnders’ departure follows a season where he reportedly struggled to make a significant impact at Manchester City. The club’s new manager, Enzo Maresca, did not include Reijnders in the squad for the recent Community Shield defeat against Arsenal, which ended 3-0.
His move marks him as the latest midfielder to leave Manchester City this summer. Previously, Rodri completed a £65 million transfer to Barcelona. Additionally, Bernardo Silva departed the club after his contract expired, subsequently signing for Real Madrid on a free transfer.
Manchester City is actively looking to strengthen its midfield. The club is reportedly in advanced talks with Lille for a deal involving Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi. Furthermore, City has not given up hope of signing Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez. Meanwhile, Spain international Nico Gonzalez has also been linked with a move to Newcastle.
Midfield Activity Across European Clubs
The transfer window has seen considerable activity in the midfield across various top European clubs. Manchester United has reportedly submitted an offer of £65 million for Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba. This proposal includes £60 million upfront and an additional £5 million in add-ons, though it is said to be below Brighton’s valuation. The 22-year-old Cameroon international has reportedly agreed to personal terms with United, and negotiations between the clubs are ongoing.
Manchester United is looking to replace Casemiro in defensive midfield with Baleba. The club has already signed Belgium international Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa for £35 million.
In Italy, Inter Milan is in discussions with Liverpool regarding a potential deal for English midfielder Curtis Jones. Inter has reportedly offered up to €35 million, which is equivalent to approximately £30 million. Jones, who is 25 years old, has entered the final year of his contract with Liverpool. Since his senior debut in 2019, he has made 228 appearances for the club. Last season, he played 49 times across all competitions, though he only made 18 starts in the Premier League.
These various transfers and ongoing negotiations highlight a busy period for clubs aiming to bolster their midfield options ahead of the upcoming season, with Tijjani Reijnders’ move to Al-Qadsiah being one of the notable completed deals.
Source: bbc.com
