Tijjani Reijnders leaves Manchester City for Al Qadsiah switch

Tijjani Reijnders has left Manchester City for Al Qadsiah, ending his spell at the Premier League club after one season. The 28-year-old Netherlands international has signed a four-year contract with the Saudi Pro League side.

Reijnders joined City from AC Milan in the 2025/26 season for €54.90 million. He had moved to Milan from AZ Alkmaar for €24.80 million in 2023/24, following earlier spells between AZ and RKC Waalwijk. His listed market value while at City was €50 million.

The central midfielder began his City career as a regular starter, but his involvement declined as the campaign progressed. He started five Premier League matches in 2026 and was an unused substitute in nine of the club’s final 14 league fixtures. He was also omitted from Pep Guardiola’s squad for the Community Shield last weekend.

Reijnders marked his departure by thanking City for a season that included two finals at Wembley in a message posted on Instagram. His move now takes him to an Al Qadsiah team that includes Mateo Retegui, Nacho Fernandez, Julian Quinones, Koen Casteels, Julian Weigl and former FC Utrecht defender Souffian El Karouani.

Al Qadsiah have finished fourth in each of the last two Saudi Pro League seasons. The club are managed by Brendan Rodgers, the former Liverpool and Celtic coach who took charge in December 2025. Reijnders will add experience in central midfield to a squad that has established itself near the top of the Saudi league.

He is the second Netherlands international to move to Saudi Arabia this summer. Crysencio Summerville joined Al Hilal from West Ham after impressing for the Dutch at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The transfers come as the Netherlands start a new era under Xavi Hernandez, appointed after Ronald Koeman resigned.