Tijjani Reijnders transfer to Al Qadsiah

Dutch midfielder Tijjani Reijnders has transitioned to the Saudi Pro League with Al Qadsiah following a summer transfer from Manchester City.

Earlier reports indicated that while several major European clubs, including Juventus, Atletico Madrid, and Newcastle United, expressed interest in Reijnders, negotiations with Manchester City stalled due to valuation disagreements. Al Qadsiah reportedly met the required terms with a payment of approximately €60 million, though recent details specify the transfer involved Al Qadsiah paying approximately €61 million to Manchester City.

Reijnders has since signed a five-year contract, citing limited playing time at Manchester City and the opportunity for long-term financial security as primary motivators. Reflecting on the move, the 28-year-old admitted that the lucrative contract—valued at approximately €100 million—was driven by a desire to secure his family’s future for generations. “Once my playing career is over, I don’t want to have to work anymore,” he remarked, noting that the deal ensures even his grandchildren will be financially secure. He further clarified his reasoning, stating, “I can make sure even my grandchildren are financially secure, so why wouldn’t I do it?”

Beyond finances, Reijnders cited a desire for a new adventure and Al Qadsiah’s ambition to become the largest club in Asia. He also noted a lack of satisfaction with his role at Manchester City, where he felt he was not being utilized in his preferred box-to-box role, often being assigned a more advanced No. 10 role instead. Despite the move to the Middle East, he remains a regular for the Netherlands national team and has defended the high quality of competition in the Saudi Pro League.