Reijnders heading for the exit before he ever truly arrived
A little over a year after arriving from Milan with a reputation, Tijjani Reijnders appears to be on his way out of Manchester City. Reports from David Ornstein and Fabrizio Romano suggest Al Qadsiah are in advanced talks with the club over the Dutch international.
The Saudi Arabian side want him. City want to sell. The only person who seems undecided is Reijnders himself.
The fee and the hold-up
According to Romano, the two clubs are close to agreeing a fee in the region of €60 million (£51.3 million). That would represent a modest profit on the £46.5 million City paid AC Milan in the summer of 2025. Not a bad return for a player who never quite settled.
There is genuine hope a deal could be wrapped up within days. Whether that happens depends on the player's willingness to move to Saudi Arabia, a decision Reijnders has yet to make.
Why it makes sense
Last season was a strange one for the midfielder. There were flashes, moments where you could see why City paid what they did. But they were just that — moments. He never became a regular in Pep Guardiola's plans, and he struggled with the physical demands of the Premier League.
Nottingham Forest are also keen, should Reijnders prefer to stay in England. But the momentum appears to be with Al Qadsiah, who are reportedly pushing hard to get this done.
For City, this is straightforward business. A player who didn't fit, moved on at a profit, quickly. The sort of deal that keeps the books tidy without any great emotional cost.