Tijjani Reijnders Faces Decision as Al Qadsiah Offers €60 Million

Tijjani Reijnders could be on the move again barely a year after arriving at Manchester City, with Saudi Pro League side Al Qadsiah pushing hard to lure the Dutch midfielder away.

Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano and other outlets report that Al Qadsiah have tabled a €60 million bid for the 28-year-old and already reached an agreement with City over the fee. The deal now rests on one final piece: Reijnders’ approval.

That is far from guaranteed.

The Netherlands international is understood to be torn over a switch to Saudi Arabia at this stage of his career. At 28, he sits squarely in his prime years, with the pull of top-level European football still strong. Nottingham Forest and Galatasaray have also registered their interest, offering more traditional routes within Europe’s competitive landscape.

The numbers from Saudi, though, change the conversation. Any contract from Al Qadsiah would dwarf what he could expect to earn by staying in England or moving to Turkey. The decision is no longer just about minutes on the pitch, but about the entire shape of the next phase of his career.

Not quite undroppable under Guardiola

Reijnders’ first season under Pep Guardiola painted a nuanced picture. He was trusted, but not untouchable.

He racked up 50 appearances in all competitions, directly contributing to 15 goals – seven of his own and eight assists. Those are strong figures for a midfielder still bedding into Guardiola’s demanding system. Yet he never fully broke into the group of automatic starters that define City’s core.

Now, with Guardiola gone and Enzo Maresca in charge, the competition around Reijnders has only intensified in the areas where he does his best work: central and attacking midfield.

Maresca has been handed a deep stable of options. Record signing Elliot Anderson arrived for €135 million and will expect a central role. Matheus Nunes, Nico Gonzalez, Mateo Kovacic, Rayan Cherki, Phil Foden and Claudio Echeverri can all operate in similar zones, crowding the path to guaranteed starts.

For a player weighing a mega-money move, that matters. Stay and fight in an elite, overstocked midfield? Or cash in on his prime years in a league that offers riches, but not the same sporting prestige?

Rodri’s future and the Enzo Fernandez domino

Reijnders’ situation also sits inside a wider puzzle at City, one that starts with Rodri.

The Spanish World Cup and European champion is being heavily courted by Barcelona. No agreement has been reached on a transfer fee, and his future remains unresolved. If Rodri does leave the 10-time Premier League champions, City are expected to act decisively in the market again.

Enzo Fernandez has emerged as the preferred solution. Maresca knows the Argentine well from their shared spell at Chelsea and is keen to build his midfield around him. Chelsea, though, are playing hardball.

According to The Athletic, the Blues have set a clear deadline for City and Real Madrid: any club wanting Fernandez must put €140 million on the table by Friday evening. Miss that window, and the door closes.

All of this feeds back into Reijnders. If City land Fernandez and keep Rodri, the battle for minutes in midfield becomes even more brutal. If Rodri goes and Fernandez stays at Chelsea, Reijnders’ value to Maresca rises again.

For now, Al Qadsiah wait with a €60 million agreement in place, Saudi money ready, and a prime-age midfielder wrestling with the biggest decision of his career.