Tijjani Reijnders Moves to Al-Qadsiah: A Lucrative Transfer

Tijjani Reijnders’ whirlwind year at Manchester City is over. The Dutch midfielder has completed a lucrative move to Al-Qadsiah, in a deal that underlines not just the financial muscle of Saudi clubs, but also the shrewd business of AC Milan.

From Manchester to the Middle East

Football Italia report that City have sold Reijnders to Al-Qadsiah for €61 million, just 12 months after bringing him in for €55m. The 26-year-old has signed a five-year contract in Saudi Arabia, with his total salary expected to clear €100m over the duration of the deal.

Al-Qadsiah unveiled their new signing with a slick presentation video on X. Reijnders, clearly relishing the spotlight, introduced himself with a bold line: “I’m a Dutch artist; I’m a Qadsiah man.”

His time in England was brief but decorated. Reijnders made 50 appearances in all competitions for City, collecting two domestic cups before the club chose to cash in.

Milan’s masterstroke

City walk away with a modest profit. Milan walk away with a jackpot.

When the Rossoneri sold Reijnders to Manchester last summer, they built in up to €14m in performance-related add-ons. That part is standard. The twist was not.

Anticipating that a quick resale was possible, Milan inserted a clause stating that if City moved Reijnders on within the first year, they would have to pay the full €14m package in any case. No waiting on Champions League trophies. No need for Ballon d’Or shortlists. Sell early, pay everything.

City pushed to wrap up the transfer swiftly. That urgency comes at a cost: they are now legally obliged to send those extra millions to Milan. With the final payment triggered, the total fee Milan receive for Reijnders climbs to almost €70m.

The numbers are staggering. Milan originally paid a reported €13m to AZ Alkmaar for Reijnders in the summer of 2023. Twelve months later, they have turned that into around €69–70m in income and a profit in the region of €56m. For a player who spent just one season in Serie A, it is one of the most lucrative pieces of business the club have pulled off in recent years.

New chapter at Al-Qadsiah

Reijnders now steps into a very different footballing landscape. He will join up with fellow newcomer Mateo Retegui and work under manager Brendan Rodgers, who has been tasked with turning Al-Qadsiah into a force not just domestically, but across Asia.

The timing is significant. Al-Qadsiah are gearing up for their first-ever campaign in the AFC Champions League Elite, a stage that demands both quality and personality. Reijnders, with his blend of technique and confidence, has been recruited to provide both.

He may not have to wait long to get started. His debut could come as soon as Friday, when Al-Qadsiah face Al-Ittihad in the second round of the Saudi Pro League.

One year, three clubs, tens of millions changing hands. Now the question is simple: can the “Dutch artist” paint Al-Qadsiah into Asia’s elite picture?