Manchester City are set to lose one of last summer's arrivals barely twelve months after he walked through the door. Tijjani Reijnders, the Dutch midfielder who joined from AC Milan for £46.5 million, is heading to Saudi Arabia in a deal worth £51 million — and he has already shaken hands on personal terms with his new club, Al Qadsiah.
It is a swift and somewhat surprising exit for a player who showed real quality when given the chance. Reijnders chipped in with seven goals across 47 appearances in all competitions during his single season at the Etihad, but a combination of fierce competition in midfield and a major squad reshuffle under new manager Enzo Maresca has brought his time in Manchester to an early close.
One Season, One Exit
When City signed Reijnders from Milan last summer, there was genuine excitement around the capture. He had been one of the standout performers in Serie A and arrived with a reputation for energy, goal-scoring from deep, and technical quality. Under Pep Guardiola, however, he found regular minutes hard to come by. The outgoing Spaniard consistently favoured Bernardo Silva and Rodri as his central partnership, leaving the Dutchman waiting in the wings more often than most would have hoped.
With Guardiola now gone — replaced by Maresca — City have triggered a rapid rebuild. Rodri is reportedly a top target for Barcelona, Bernardo Silva has departed, and the club's entire midfield setup is being reimagined. In that environment, Reijnders became expendable rather than essential.
City Cash In as Saudi Move Finalised
The £51 million fee represents a small but meaningful profit on what City paid just twelve months ago. Combined with sales including Nathan Ake to Fenerbahce and James Trafford to Leeds United, the club has now raised approximately £100 million through outgoing transfers this window alone.
That money has already been put to work. City earlier this month completed the signing of Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson for a staggering £116 million — the most expensive deal for a British player in football history. The clear message from the Etihad boardroom: the Reijnders era is done, and a new chapter is being written.
Interest From Forest Before Saudi Switch
It is worth noting that Reijnders did not rush into the Saudi decision. Reports had linked him with a Premier League stay through interest from Nottingham Forest, the very club whose £116 million sale of Elliot Anderson helped fund his own replacement. In the end, the financial package on offer in the Saudi Pro League proved too attractive to turn down.
Al Qadsiah now get a 26-year-old international who still has years ahead of him and a point to prove. Whether Reijnders thrives or stagnates in the Middle East will be one of this window's more intriguing subplots. For now, City move on — and the Dutch midfielder starts a new chapter far from the Premier League stage he had aimed to conquer.
What It Means for City's Midfield
With Reijnders out and Anderson in, City are clearly betting on youth and physicality over the more refined qualities the Dutchman brought. Enzo Maresca is also reportedly tracking Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez and Moroccan teenager Ayyoub Bouaddi as he continues to mould the squad in his own image. The transformation at the Etihad is happening fast — and Reijnders, ultimately, was a casualty of the speed of it all.
0 Comments