Tijjani Reijnders leaves Manchester City for Al Qadsiah in permanent transfer

Tijjani Reijnders has completed a permanent move from Manchester City to Al Qadsiah, ending his stay at the Etihad Stadium little more than a year after arriving from AC Milan.

Manchester City have confirmed the Netherlands international’s departure, while Al Qadsiah have formally presented the midfielder as their latest signing. The transfer fee has not been disclosed by City, although reports in Spain have valued the deal at around €61 million.

Reijnders joined City from Milan in the summer of 2025 and went on to make 50 appearances in all competitions, scoring seven goals. His time in Manchester included success in both the FA Cup and League Cup, but his spell at the club has proved considerably shorter than initially expected.

The 27-year-old now moves to the Saudi Pro League at a stage of his career when he remains an established Netherlands international and an experienced midfielder at the highest European level.

His departure also represents another significant change to Manchester City’s midfield structure during a summer of major transition. Rodri has already left the club for Barcelona, and Reijnders’ exit removes another senior central option from a squad that is being substantially reshaped ahead of the new Premier League campaign.

Reijnders brought technical quality, ball progression and an ability to operate across several midfield roles during his season in England. His departure after only one full campaign underlines the scale and speed of the changes taking place at City rather than the gradual evolution usually associated with the club’s squad planning.

For Al Qadsiah, the deal brings in a player with recent Premier League, Serie A and Champions League experience as the Saudi club continue investing in established international talent.

The move is now fully confirmed, with both clubs having announced the transfer. While the reported €61 million fee remains unofficial, Reijnders’ departure closes another major piece of Manchester City’s summer business and further reshapes the midfield ahead of the 2026-27 season.