Tijjani Reijnders Leaves Manchester City for Al-Qadsiah

Tijjani Reijnders’ brief Manchester City chapter is over. The Netherlands midfielder has completed a £52m move to Saudi Arabian side Al-Qadsiah, drawing a line under a one-season stay that never quite caught fire.

A swift exit after a packed debut year

Reijnders arrived at the Etihad only last summer, a £46.5m signing from AC Milan, and walked into a dressing room chasing every trophy on offer in Pep Guardiola’s final season. He featured heavily too: 50 appearances in all competitions, seven goals, and medals in both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup.

On paper, that looks like a solid return. In reality, he struggled to truly impose himself in a City midfield stacked with established stars and defined by Guardiola’s exacting standards. He was often a useful cog rather than a central pillar.

His summer was busy as well. Reijnders started all three of the Netherlands’ group-stage matches at the 2026 World Cup, only to watch from the bench as an unused substitute during their last-32 defeat to Morocco. It summed up a year in which he was present in the big moments, but not always decisive within them.

Emotional farewell as Maresca draws a line

The tone of his departure from Manchester was warm, if final.

"I have been incredibly privileged to play for Manchester City, and I have relished every minute of my time here," Reijnders said, paying tribute to a club he barely had time to settle into. He spoke of being welcomed instantly by players, coaches and staff, and reserved a “special thank you” for City fans who, he said, were “so warm and supportive both to me and my family.”

Yet the competitive reality had already been laid bare. New manager Enzo Maresca left Reijnders out of the squad for Sunday’s 3-0 Community Shield defeat by Arsenal, a glaring signal that the Dutchman no longer sat at the heart of City’s plans. The move to Al-Qadsiah felt less like a surprise and more like the inevitable next step.

Al-Qadsiah’s statement move

Reijnders has reportedly signed a five-year contract with Al-Qadsiah, who are managed by former Liverpool and Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers. For the Saudi club, it is another high-profile capture: a current Netherlands international, fresh from a World Cup and a double domestic cup-winning season in England.

For the player, it is a new stage and a long-term commitment, a chance to become a leading figure rather than a rotational option.

City’s midfield reshaped again

His exit continues a dramatic overhaul of Manchester City’s midfield this summer. Rodri has already gone, completing a £65m move to Barcelona. Bernardo Silva has also departed, leaving at the end of his contract and joining Real Madrid on a free transfer.

Now Reijnders follows them out of the door, leaving Maresca with both a tactical puzzle and a recruitment challenge. Three influential midfielders from Guardiola’s final campaign have gone in quick succession.

City have lived through rebuilds before and thrived. But with so much of their old control room stripped away in one window, how quickly can Maresca build a new one that feels just as dominant?