Tijjani Reijnders Man City £50m exit brink (2025)

Manchester City’s midfield rebuild under Enzo Maresca started to cost them real money and real squad balance, with Tijjani Reijnders now on the brink of leaving for Saudi Arabia after just one year at the Etihad Stadium. The Netherlands midfielder is in advanced talks with Al Qadsiah, and the likely fee is “just over £50m” — a number that matters to fans and executives alike because City could even be set up to take a small profit after paying AC Milan £46.5m last summer. Here’s the thing: this isn’t a “maybe someday” story — it’s a sprint towards finalising a transfer window that also had to line up with major global fixtures.

Tijjani reijnders: Overview: What’s happening and why it’s urgent

Before this talks stage, Reijnders was a £46.5m acquisition from AC Milan, arriving last summer with a five-year deal agreed and personal terms already in place at City. Worth noting: City didn’t exactly keep the same midfield pecking order through 2025/26, and Reijnders eventually lost a starting role as the season progressed.
Now, according to TEAMtalk, City is in talks with Al Qadsiah to sell the 26-year-old, with negotiations described as advanced and a fee close to £50m. Independent reporting also frames the timing as a push that could be concluded ahead of the Club World Cup, scheduled to start on 14 June. For supporters, this is the kind of deal that changes more than the transfer list — it shifts dressing-room dynamics, transfer-market leverage, and even how confidently a club can plan beyond one season.

Key Details: The fee, the coach, and the contract timeline

Reijnders’ situation is being driven by two linked facts: the £46.5m to AC Milan for him last summer, and the original deal from Milan was described as €55m (£46.3m), with personal terms set on a five-year contract at the Etihad.
TEAMtalk adds a clear footballing reason for the Saudi destination: Al Qadsiah is coached by Brendan Rodgers, the former Liverpool, Leicester, and Celtic manager who is now set to add a Dutch midfielder to his staff. That matters because it’s not only about money — it’s about fit. Independent further says Reijnders, a Dutch midfielder born 29 July 1998, scored seven goals in 50 games for City, but his minutes fell as the Enzo Maresca era continued to take shape.
Here’s the catalyst: Independent reports that Pep Guardiola favoured a midfield shape pairing captain Bernardo Silva with Rodri, and once that balance changed, Reijnders lost his place in the starting XI. That’s a brutal reality check in elite football: even players bought for big money can become surplus when the tactical hierarchy updates.

Context: Why Nottingham Forest was in the mix (and what City’s overhaul signals)

Nottingham Forest had emerged as a possible destination in other transfer speculation, but TEAMtalk’s account says Reijnders has instead agreed the move to Al Qadsiah. That switch is important because it shows City didn’t just shop for a buyer — they found a scenario where the player’s next step was tied to a coach with a known managerial identity.
We can also read this through City’s broader midfield planning. Independent says City has already signed Elliot Anderson from Forest for £116m, and they are also linked to other midfield targets including Ayyoub Bouaddi and Enzo Fernandez. If those additions take hold, then selling Reijnders becomes more than a single transfer; it becomes the cleanup operation after a summer strategy begins reshaping selection.
For Indian and global fans, the impact is personal even when it looks like “boardroom business.” Every high-fee sale changes the salary structure, the squad’s identity on matchdays, and the chance that younger or rotational players get a real runway. It’s also a story that feeds the wider Premier League-to-Saudi pipeline question: when a player’s role declines, does the club cash in quickly or hold out for the perfect offer?

Side-by-side: Reijnders’ move mechanics and what it means for City

Worth noting: the overall package could rise to €70.7m by 2030, including performance-based add-ons up to €14m (£12m/$16.3m). That’s where the “small profit” angle becomes believable rather than wishful thinking, because add-ons can swing the final arithmetic. Stay tuned for more on tijjani reijnders.

What’s next: How to interpret the “brink” language and the decision

If City and Al Qadsiah are truly in advanced negotiations, the key question becomes simple: does the £50m-adjacent fee close quickly, or do add-on structures and formalities stretch the process? Independent’s reference to aligning with the Club World Cup timetable suggests urgency, and that typically benefits the club that wants a fast squad reset.
For City, this deal looks like a pressure-release valve: sell one midfielder who has lost his starting slot, fund squad evolution, and potentially keep a positive financial outcome. For Reijnders, the appeal is clear — a manager-led rebuild under Rodgers and the chance to restart his status after a tough run for minutes at the Etihad. For fans tracking football’s transfer calendar, the smart approach is to watch whether City’s talks close rapidly and whether Reijnders is presented as part of Rodgers’ immediate plan at Al Qadsiah.
When you see a £46.5m signing drift into a £50m exit lane after one season, pick the side that matches the football logic: the club that needs tactical change, or the player who needs consistent role clarity.

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FAQs

Is Tijjani Reijnders really on the brink of leaving Man City?

Yes. Independent reports City are in talks with Al Qadsiah, and TEAMtalk says the negotiations are advanced for a deal described as “just over £50m,” after Reijnders joined City only one year earlier.

How much did Man City pay for Reijnders when he joined?

Independent notes City paid £46.5m from AC Milan. Related reporting also described the overall Milan agreement as worth €55m (£46.3m), with personal terms already agreed on a five-year Etihad contract.

Why did Reijnders lose his starting place at City?

Independent says he lost his spot in the starting XI as City’s midfield preference shifted, with Pep Guardiola previously pairing Bernardo Silva with Rodri, and the starting order changing as the 2025/26 season progressed.

Who is coaching Al Qadsiah in this transfer story?

Reports identify Brendan Rodgers as the coach at Al Qadsiah, which is being framed as a major factor in why the Saudi move makes football sense for Reijnders.