Tijjani Reijnders Joins Al-Qadsiah in Blockbuster Transfer
Tijjani Reijnders has completed a blockbuster move from Manchester City to Al-Qadsiah, sealing one of the most eye-catching transfers of the summer and triggering a financial jackpot for Milan in the process.
The Saudi club have paid a reported €61 million to prise the Dutch midfielder away from the Etihad after just one season. Reijnders, who has signed a five-year deal in the Middle East, is set to earn more than €100m over the length of his contract. Al-Qadsiah unveiled their new star with a slick presentation video on X, where he introduced himself with a line that will play well with his new supporters: “I'm a Dutch artist; I'm a Qadsiah man.”
He leaves England with 50 appearances for City across all competitions and two domestic cups to his name. A brief stay. Not an insignificant one.
Milan’s masterstroke
On the surface, City have done respectable business, banking a profit on the player they brought in for €55m a year ago. But the real winners sit in Milan’s boardroom.
When Milan sold Reijnders to Manchester City last summer, they built in up to €14m in performance-related add-ons. That part was standard. The twist was not. Expecting that a rapid resale was possible, the Italian club inserted a clause that now looks like pure foresight: if City sold Reijnders within the first year, they would owe the entire €14m package, regardless of whether he hit any of the sporting milestones attached to it — from Champions League glory to individual honours like the Ballon d'Or.
City pushed to close the Al-Qadsiah deal quickly. That urgency has come at a cost. By signing off on the transfer inside that 12-month window, they are now legally obliged to send the full add-on amount to Milan.
That final payment nudges the total fee Milan receive for Reijnders up to almost €70m. For a player they reportedly bought from AZ Alkmaar for just €13m in the summer of 2023, the numbers are staggering: a profit in the region of €56m, achieved in barely a year. In financial terms, it is one of the shrewdest pieces of business in recent Serie A memory.
New chapter in Saudi Arabia
For Reijnders, the story now moves to Saudi Arabia and a club with growing ambition. He will join up with fellow new arrival Mateo Retegui under manager Brendan Rodgers, as Al-Qadsiah gear up for their first appearance in the AFC Champions League Elite.
The schedule offers no gentle introduction. Reijnders could make his debut as early as Friday, when Al-Qadsiah face Al-Ittihad in the second round of the Saudi Pro League. A new league, a new continent, a huge contract and serious expectations — the “Dutch artist” has his next canvas.
