Tijjani Reijnders Joins Al-Qadsiah in Record Transfer
Tijjani Reijnders has completed a blockbuster move from Manchester City to Al-Qadsiah, sealing one of the most lucrative transfers of the year and triggering a windfall in Milan.
The Dutch midfielder joins the Saudi Pro League side for a reported €61 million fee, signing a five-year deal in the Middle East. Across that contract, his salary is expected to climb beyond €100m, a staggering figure for a player who spent just a single season in England.
Al-Qadsiah announced his arrival with a slick presentation video on X. Reijnders, clearly buying into the project, delivered the line that will follow him for a while: “I’m a Dutch artist; I’m a Qadsiah man.”
He leaves Manchester City after 50 appearances in all competitions and two domestic cups, a brief but decorated stint that still ended with the Premier League champions cashing out at a profit on the €55m they paid 12 months ago.
The real winners, though, sit in Milan’s boardroom.
When Milan sold Reijnders to City last summer, they did not just bank the initial fee. They built in up to €14m in performance-related add-ons and, crucially, a clause tailored for exactly this scenario. If City sold Reijnders within the first year, they would be obliged to pay the full €14m package, no matter what. No Champions League triumph required. No Ballon d’Or. No conditions at all.
City’s desire to close the deal quickly has now activated that clause in full. The impatience comes at a cost: those extra millions must be wired to Milan.
That final payment pushes the total fee Milan receive for Reijnders close to €70m. For a player they reportedly bought from AZ Alkmaar for just €13m in the summer of 2023, the numbers are brutal. The Italian club walk away with an estimated profit of around €56m on a midfielder they only had on their books for a year.
While the accountants in Milan celebrate a masterstroke, Reijnders turns to a new chapter in Saudi Arabia.
He will now team up with fellow recruit Mateo Retegui under manager Brendan Rodgers, as Al-Qadsiah gear up for their first-ever campaign in the AFC Champions League Elite. The club’s ambition is clear: big-name coach, high-profile signings, and a serious tilt at regional relevance.
Reijnders might not have to wait long to show why Al-Qadsiah pushed so hard to get him. He could make his debut as early as Friday, when Rodgers’ side face Al-Ittihad in the second round of the Saudi Pro League.
One year, three clubs, and tens of millions moved. Now the question is simple: can the self-styled “Dutch artist” turn Al-Qadsiah’s spending spree into silverware?
