Tijjani Reijnders Faces Decision on Manchester City Future

Tijjani Reijnders stands at a crossroads. The Manchester City midfielder is the subject of advanced talks between City and Al-Qadsiah over a move worth around €60 million, according to Fabrizio Romano – but the player himself has not yet given the green light.

City and the Saudi club are understood to be close to an agreement on the fee. The hesitation lies with Reijnders, who must now decide whether to swap the Premier League and Champions League chase for a lucrative switch to the Saudi Pro League.

Nottingham Forest wait in the background. The Premier League side are keen on the 28-year-old and are tracking developments closely, ready to pounce if the Saudi move stalls or if Reijnders opts to remain in Europe.

The Dutch international, capped 35 times, is under contract at Manchester City until mid-2030. On paper, his future is secure. In reality, his role has grown more complicated.

Signed from AC Milan last summer for €55 million after establishing himself as one of the standout performers in Serie A, Reijnders arrived in Manchester with momentum and status. He started brightly, slotted into City’s intricate midfield, and looked every bit the long-term piece Pep Guardiola wanted.

Then the minutes began to drift away.

Across last season, Reijnders still logged a respectable 2,810 minutes in all competitions for City. He scored seven goals – five of them in the Premier League – and supplied eight assists. Those numbers underline his influence when on the pitch, but they also mask a gradual slide from automatic starter to regular substitute as the campaign wore on.

That shift is at the heart of his dilemma. Stay at City, fight his way back into the core of the side, and remain at the sharp end of European football? Or accept a major offer from Al-Qadsiah, take on a leading role in Saudi Arabia, and follow a path that more and more top-level players are choosing?

There is already a familiar Dutch reference point. Crysencio Summerville, fresh from a strong World Cup, chose the Saudi route and signed for Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro League. Reijnders could be next, another Netherlands international tempted by a new frontier.

For now, the clubs are aligned, the numbers are clear, and the market is watching. The final move belongs to Reijnders – and whichever way he jumps will say plenty about where he sees the prime of his career.