Tijjani Reijnders Says Yes to Al-Qadsiah as Manchester City Agree €61m Transfer

Tijjani Reijnders is closing in on a shock move away from Manchester City after giving the green light to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Qadsiah in a deal worth €61million.

The Netherlands international has now agreed to the move after Manchester City and Al-Qadsiah had already reached a verbal agreement over the transfer fee.

All three parties are therefore in agreement, with the clubs exchanging documents ahead of the final signatures.

Reijnders did not take part in Manchester City training as he waits to travel to Saudi Arabia and complete the remaining formalities.

Barring any late complications, the transfer will bring Reijnders’ Manchester City career to an end after just one season in England.

Reijnders Gives Al-Qadsiah the Green Light

The biggest obstacle facing Al-Qadsiah was convincing Reijnders himself.

Earlier on Thursday, reports indicated that Manchester City had accepted a proposal worth around €61m, but the transfer remained dependent on the midfielder deciding whether he wanted to leave the Premier League.

That decision has now been made.

Reijnders has accepted the move and a verbal agreement is in place between Manchester City, Al-Qadsiah and the player’s representatives.

It represents a major breakthrough for the Saudi club after negotiations accelerated rapidly.

The paperwork is now being exchanged before the agreements can be formally signed.

Once that process is completed, Reijnders is expected to travel to Saudi Arabia as he prepares for the next chapter of his career.

Manchester City Receive €61m

City’s willingness to sell Reijnders is particularly interesting considering the midfielder only arrived at the Etihad Stadium last summer.

The Premier League club signed him from AC Milan for around £46.5m following his impressive performances in Italy.

Reijnders had established himself as one of Serie A’s standout midfielders and had also become an important player for the Netherlands.

His combination of ball-carrying ability, intelligent movement and attacking contribution made him an attractive addition as City looked to reshape their midfield.

Just one year later, however, his time in Manchester is coming to an unexpectedly early conclusion.

Al-Qadsiah’s €61m offer provided City with an opportunity to recover a significant amount of money from their investment rather than keeping a player whose first-team position had become increasingly uncertain.

Why Are Manchester City Selling Reijnders?

Reijnders’ departure comes during another major restructuring of City’s midfield.

His first season in England contained some impressive moments, particularly during the early stages of the campaign, but he eventually found regular starts more difficult to secure.

City have since continued investing heavily in midfield.

The arrival of England international Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest has added another major option for new manager Enzo Maresca.

City have also been linked with further midfield additions as Maresca reshapes the squad he inherited from Pep Guardiola.

With competition increasing and Al-Qadsiah willing to put more than €60m on the table, City decided they were prepared to sanction Reijnders’ departure.

For a player who joined only a year ago, it is a remarkably quick turnaround.

Reijnders’ Manchester City Spell Lasts Just One Season

Reijnders arrived in Manchester with significant expectations following an excellent period at AC Milan.

His technical qualities appeared well suited to City’s possession-heavy style.

He was comfortable receiving the ball under pressure, could progress possession through midfield and offered a goalscoring threat when arriving around the penalty area.

There were encouraging signs during his first months in England.

However, adapting to the physical and tactical demands of the Premier League was not always straightforward.

Reijnders still featured heavily over the course of the campaign, making around 50 appearances across competitions, but his position became less secure during the latter stages of the season.

Then came a major managerial change.

Guardiola stepped down after a decade in charge and Maresca arrived with his own ideas about how City’s midfield should operate.

Reijnders has now become one of the most significant departures of the new era.

Al-Qadsiah Make Another Major Statement

For Al-Qadsiah, signing Reijnders represents another indication of the club’s ambition.

Saudi Arabian football has attracted numerous established European stars over recent seasons, but Reijnders is particularly notable because he is still firmly within the prime years of his career.

The midfielder recently turned 28 and remains an important Netherlands international.

He is not arriving in Saudi Arabia at the very end of his playing days.

Al-Qadsiah are therefore acquiring a midfielder who has recently played for AC Milan and Manchester City and has considerable experience in both domestic and European competition.

That makes the €61m investment significant.

The Saudi club are attempting to strengthen their squad with players capable of making an immediate impact, and Reijnders fits that profile.

Brendan Rodgers Set to Work With Reijnders

Another interesting aspect of the transfer is the opportunity for Reijnders to work under Brendan Rodgers.

The former Liverpool and Celtic manager is now in charge of Al-Qadsiah and is overseeing the club’s latest project.

Rodgers has considerable experience working with technically gifted midfielders and building teams that want to control possession.

Reijnders should therefore fit naturally into the type of football the Northern Irish manager has traditionally preferred.

His ability to carry the ball through midfield could become particularly important.

Rather than competing with several elite midfielders for minutes in Manchester, Reijnders could immediately become one of the central figures in Rodgers’ team.

That may have helped make the Saudi proposal more attractive.

Nottingham Forest Had Also Been Interested

Al-Qadsiah were not the only club linked with Reijnders.

Nottingham Forest had reportedly been interested in the Dutchman for several weeks and were monitoring his situation at Manchester City.

However, no fresh Forest proposal arrived as Al-Qadsiah accelerated negotiations.

The Saudi club instead moved quickly to reach an agreement with City before turning its attention towards convincing the player.

Once Reijnders gave his approval, the possibility of another club entering the race became considerably more difficult.

The transfer is now at the documentation stage rather than simply being an expression of interest.

Reijnders Faces a Major Career Change

Moving from Manchester to Saudi Arabia represents a significant decision for Reijnders.

Only a year ago, he was leaving AC Milan to join one of the biggest clubs in the Premier League.

Now he is preparing to leave European club football entirely.

But the move also gives him the opportunity to become a major figure at Al-Qadsiah.

At Manchester City, competition for midfield places was always going to be intense.

In Saudi Arabia, Reijnders can expect to arrive as one of his new club’s most important players.

The challenge will be maintaining the level that has made him a regular Netherlands international while adapting to a completely different league and environment.

City Continue Major Squad Rebuild Under Maresca

Reijnders’ departure also highlights how quickly things are changing at Manchester City following Guardiola’s exit.

Maresca has inherited a squad built largely around the ideas of his predecessor, but City are already making significant personnel decisions.

Reijnders is now heading out despite only joining the club last summer.

At the same time, City continue to assess other midfield opportunities as they prepare for the new campaign.

There is also uncertainty surrounding Rodri, who has attracted serious interest from Barcelona, while City have been linked with Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez.

That means the midfield Maresca eventually uses this season could look significantly different from the one Guardiola left behind.

Reijnders Deal Now Close to Completion

There are still formal steps to complete before Reijnders can officially be announced as an Al-Qadsiah player.

Contracts must be signed and the remaining transfer formalities completed.

But the most important agreements are now in place.

Manchester City have accepted the €61m package.

Al-Qadsiah want the midfielder.

And, crucially, Reijnders has now said yes.

The clubs are exchanging the necessary documents and the Dutch international is preparing to travel to Saudi Arabia.

After just one season at Manchester City, Tijjani Reijnders’ Premier League adventure is therefore on the verge of an unexpectedly early ending.

For Al-Qadsiah, meanwhile, they are closing in on one of the Saudi Pro League’s most eye-catching signings of the summer.