Tijjani Reijnders Faces Decision as Saudi Millions Challenge Man City

Tijjani Reijnders could be heading for the exit at Manchester City barely a year after arriving – and the offer on the table is the kind that forces a decision.

Saudi Pro League side Al Qadsiah have submitted a €60 million bid for the Dutch midfielder and, according to multiple reports including Fabrizio Romano, an agreement with Man City is already in place. The last word now rests with the player.

That is where the story becomes complicated.

At 28, Reijnders is in the middle of his prime years. The move would bring a huge salary in Saudi Arabia, likely dwarfing anything on offer in England or from Turkey, but he is still weighing up whether swapping European elite football for the Gulf is the right step at this stage of his career. Nottingham Forest and Galatasaray have also registered their interest, presenting more traditional routes if he opts to stay in Europe.

Not quite undroppable under Guardiola

Reijnders’ first season under Pep Guardiola was busy, but not defining.

He featured regularly and ended the campaign with 50 appearances across all competitions, directly involved in 15 goals – seven scored, eight created. Strong numbers, yet he never quite broke into the category of untouchable starters in Guardiola’s finely tuned system.

Now, with Enzo Maresca stepping into the dugout, the competition around his preferred positions has only intensified.

Maresca’s midfield traffic jam

Maresca inherits a squad stacked with options in central and attacking midfield – precisely where Reijnders operates best.

The club have already committed €135 million to Elliot Anderson, a statement signing in those zones. Around him, Matheus Nunes, Nico Gonzalez, Mateo Kovacic, Rayan Cherki, Phil Foden and Claudio Echeverri all offer solutions between the lines and in deeper roles. For any midfielder looking for guaranteed minutes, it is a crowded room.

On top of that, the biggest domino in City’s midfield still hasn’t fallen.

Rodri, the heartbeat of their structure and a Spanish world and European champion, remains heavily courted by Barcelona. Talks over a fee are unresolved, with no agreement in sight. His future will shape City’s next move.

If Rodri does depart, the 10-time Premier League champions are expected to go back into the market again. Enzo Fernandez has emerged as the preferred target, with Maresca having already worked with him at Chelsea and knowing exactly what he would bring.

Chelsea, though, have drawn a hard line. According to The Athletic, any club – including Man City and Real Madrid – has only until Friday evening to meet their €140 million valuation of the Argentina international.

So Reijnders waits. Between a lucrative leap to Saudi Arabia, interest from Europe, and a City midfield about to be reshuffled again, his next decision will say a lot about what he wants from the peak years of his career.