Reijnders Faces Decision as Al Qadsiah Pursues Transfer
Tijjani Reijnders’ Manchester City future is suddenly wide open, barely a year after his arrival. Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano and other outlets report that Saudi Pro League side Al Qadsiah have launched a serious move for the Dutch midfielder – and they are not coming quietly.
The Saudi club are said to have tabled a €60 million bid and, crucially, have already reached an agreement with Manchester City. The deal, on the clubs’ side, looks ready. One signature is missing.
Reijnders’.
The 28-year-old is understood to be hesitating over a switch to Saudi Arabia at this stage of his career. This is his peak, his prime years, and the question is stark: does he trade the highest European stage for the financial power of the Gulf now, or squeeze more from his time in England?
Nottingham Forest and Galatasaray have also reportedly signalled their interest, offering different sporting projects and leagues, but none can match the salary levels on offer in Saudi Arabia. The contrast is clear: competitive balance and visibility in Europe on one side, a huge pay packet and a new footballing frontier on the other.
Not quite undroppable under Guardiola
Reijnders did not vanish under Pep Guardiola. Far from it. He featured regularly last season, even if he never fully broke into the category of untouchable starters.
Across all competitions, the midfielder played 50 matches and delivered 15 direct goal contributions – seven goals and eight assists. Those are strong numbers in a squad stacked with attacking and creative talent, yet the feeling remained that he hovered just below the inner circle of guaranteed names on the team sheet.
Maresca’s crowded midfield and the Rodri question
Maresca has been handed options. Plenty of them. Manchester City have invested heavily again, with €135 million signing Elliot Anderson joining a group that already includes Matheus Nunes, Nico Gonzalez, Mateo Kovacic, Rayan Cherki, Phil Foden and Claudio Echeverri, all capable of operating in similar areas to Reijnders.
The message is unavoidable: no one in that cluster is guaranteed minutes. Some will thrive. Some will be squeezed out.
Hovering over all of this is the uncertainty around Rodri. The Spanish world and European champion is being strongly pursued by Barcelona, and there is still no agreement on a transfer fee. His future remains a live issue.
If Rodri does leave the 10-time Premier League champions, City are expected to move again in the market. Enzo Fernandez is viewed as the preferred solution for the holding and central midfield roles, with Maresca knowing the Argentine well from their shared time at Chelsea.
Chelsea, though, are not in the mood to wait. According to The Athletic, the Blues have imposed a deadline on potential buyers, including Manchester City and Real Madrid: any club wanting Fernandez must put €140 million on the table by Friday evening.
So Reijnders watches the pieces move. Al Qadsiah’s money on one side, fierce internal competition and a possible reshuffle around Rodri and Fernandez on the other. The clubs are ready. The market is moving.
Now the decision rests with him: stay in the fight for minutes at the heart of Europe’s elite, or cash in his prime years under the Saudi sun?
