Reijnders Weighing Saudi Move Amid City Midfield Changes
Tijjani Reijnders could be heading for the exit at Manchester City barely a year after arriving, with Saudi Pro League side Al Qadsiah pushing hard to lure the Dutchman away.
Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano and other reports say Al Qadsiah have tabled a €60 million bid and already reached an agreement with City. The only missing signature is Reijnders’ own. That is where the story becomes complicated.
At 28, the midfielder sits right in his peak years, and the prospect of swapping the Premier League for the Saudi desert is giving him pause. The money on offer in Saudi Arabia would dwarf what he could expect to earn in England or Turkey, but the sporting trade‑off is obvious. Nottingham Forest and Galatasaray have both registered their interest, offering more traditional European routes if he decides to stay closer to the game’s established spotlight.
From trusted option to expendable asset?
Reijnders was no fringe player under Pep Guardiola. He featured regularly last season, racking up 50 appearances in all competitions and directly contributing to 15 goals, with seven strikes of his own and eight assists. He was part of the rotation rather than the inner circle of untouchables, but he was clearly trusted.
The landscape under Enzo Maresca looks different. The new City manager is spoiled for choice in the areas where Reijnders operates best – central and attacking midfield. The club have just spent €135 million on Elliot Anderson, who is expected to command serious minutes. Around him, Matheus Nunes, Nico Gonzalez, Mateo Kovacic, Rayan Cherki, Phil Foden and Claudio Echeverri can all operate in those central lanes or higher up the pitch.
In that crowd, Reijnders risks becoming one option too many.
Rodri’s future and the Enzo Fernández domino
Hovering over all of this is the uncertainty around Rodri. Barcelona are pushing hard to prise the Spain international away, and while there is no agreement yet on a transfer fee, the interest is serious enough to influence City’s planning.
If Rodri does go, the 10-time Premier League champions are expected to move again in the market. Enzo Fernández is viewed as the preferred solution in that scenario, with Maresca having already worked with the Argentinian during their time together at Chelsea.
Chelsea, though, have drawn a hard line. According to The Athletic, suitors such as City and Real Madrid have until Friday evening to trigger a €140 million deal. Miss that window, and the door is shut.
So Reijnders waits. Between a Saudi jackpot, European alternatives, and a City midfield in flux, his next decision will say a lot about what he values most at the height of his career.
