Tijjani Reijnders Shines in Saudi Arabia with First-Half Brace

Tijjani Reijnders is wasting no time justifying his price tag in Saudi Arabia.

The Netherlands midfielder, Al-Qadsiah’s record signing, delivered a ruthless first-half brace in the Roshn League clash with Al-Ahli on Tuesday at Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam, underlining how quickly he has adapted to his new surroundings.

He struck first in the 14th minute. Picking up the ball on the edge of the penalty area, Reijnders unleashed a fierce drive that flew beyond Senegalese goalkeeper Édouard Mendy, a finish that blended precision with sheer power and set the tone for the night.

Al-Qadsiah kept coming. The pressure mounted, the gaps widened, and just as Al-Ahli looked desperate to reach the break without further damage, Reijnders punished them again. Three minutes into first-half stoppage time, he timed his run perfectly and met a cross from Mohammed Abu Al-Shamat with a firm header for his side’s third goal, capping a dominant opening 45 minutes.

Those two strikes were his second and third goals for Al-Qadsiah since his summer move from Manchester City, and they tell a clear story: he has hit the ground running in the Roshn League. His first goal came early as well, in just his second appearance, during a composed 2-0 win over Neom in the third round.

That burst already surpasses his initial spell in England. At Manchester City last season, he managed one goal in his first four matches, scoring against Wolverhampton on the opening weekend of the Premier League. In Saudi Arabia, his impact has been sharper, quicker, more decisive.

Reijnders remains the most expensive signing in Al-Qadsiah’s history, with the club paying a reported 61 million euros to bring him in from Manchester City in the last transfer window.

Performances like this suggest they have bought not just a statement name, but a midfielder ready to shape their season.