Manchester City are reportedly negotiating the sale of midfielder Tijjani Reijnders to Saudi Pro League club Al Qadsiah, in a deal that could see the Dutchman depart the Etihad Stadium after just one season with the club.
Al Qadsiah, managed by former Liverpool, Leicester and Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers, are said to be willing to pay around £50m to secure Reijnders' signature. The proposed fee would represent a profit for City, who signed the 27-year-old from AC Milan last summer for £46.5m.
Reijnders' potential move to Saudi Arabia comes amid a significant reshaping of Manchester City's midfield under new manager Enzo Maresca, who has taken charge following Pep Guardiola's departure. The Netherlands international made 50 appearances for City across all competitions, contributing seven goals, but found himself increasingly on the periphery as last season progressed.
During the 2025/26 campaign, Guardiola had shown a preference for pairing captain Bernardo Silva alongside Rodri in central midfield, a combination that limited Reijnders' opportunities in the starting lineup. With Silva having since left the club and Rodri reportedly attracting interest from Barcelona, the composition of City's midfield options continues to evolve rapidly.
Adding to the sense that Reijnders may no longer be central to City's plans is the club's recent £116m acquisition of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest, a signing that underscores the scale of investment Manchester City are prepared to make as they restructure their squad under Maresca. The club are also understood to be exploring further midfield reinforcements, with Morocco international Ayyoub Bouaddi and Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez both named as targets.
Interestingly, Nottingham Forest themselves had previously shown interest in signing Reijnders, though it now appears a move to the Middle East is the more likely destination for the midfielder. Al Qadsiah's interest reflects the growing trend of established European talent being lured to the Saudi Pro League, where Rodgers has been tasked with building a competitive squad.
Should the transfer go through, it would mark a rapid turnaround for Reijnders, who arrived at City with considerable promise after an impressive spell in Serie A with AC Milan. His time in Manchester, however, proved difficult to sustain amid intense competition for places in midfield and a shifting tactical setup following the managerial change.
For Manchester City, the sale would free up space and resources as they continue their midfield overhaul under Maresca, with the additions of Anderson and potential further signings suggesting a broader strategic shift in how the club intends to approach the middle of the pitch going forward.
Neither club has yet confirmed the deal publicly, and further details, including personal terms and the structure of any agreement, are expected to emerge as talks progress. The situation remains fluid, with City weighing their midfield options across multiple targets while negotiations with Al Qadsiah continue.
Based on reporting from Independent Football.