Tijjani Reijnders is close to leaving Manchester City after just one year at the club.
The Dutch international is set to join Saudi Pro League side Al Qadsiah on a £52million transfer with talks currently in advanced stages.
Signed from AC Milan in the summer of 2025, Reijnders was widely touted as City’s next midfield talisman with Kevin De Bruyne joining Napoli and Ilkay Gundogan moving to Galatasaray.
But fast forward by 12 months and the 28-year-old is already on the cusp of a new adventure, far from the glitz and glamor of the English top-flight.
As Reijnders gets ever closer to moving from City to Al Qadsiah, here are the winners and losers from the transfer:
Winner: Manchester City
Make no mistake, Manchester City aren’t losing anything here. In fact, the club is set to make a profit of almost £6 million from his sale, after having signed him for £46million last year and now selling him off for £52million.
The Sky Blues are not only recouping their investment in the player, but getting some extra cash too despite having the Dutchman on the books for just one year. They’d also be freeing up significant wages from his transfer.
Loser: Tijjani Reijnders
Sure, his bank account is set to receive a massive bump, but it’s honestly a step down in career for Tijjani Reijnders. Just think about it for a moment: at 28 years of age, in the prime of your career, would you rather ply your trade for a big European side that actively competes for top honors domestically and internationally, or trade that for a fat pay cheque at a relatively obscure club far away in the footballing hinterland of the Middle East?
The Saudi Pro League surely has gained global recognition since Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to Al Nassr in 2022, followed by many other marquee players also jumping ships, but it remains far behind the stratosphere of Europe’s elite. The move could also potentially stall his international career with the Netherlands.
Winner: Elliot Anderson
Another figure who stands to benefit a lot from his departure is Elliot Anderson, who has the chance to become City’s biggest talisman in midfield.
The club record signing from Nottingham Forest won’t have to compete with anyone for either attention or position, with Bernardo Silva leaving and Reijnders and Rodri edging closer to exit too.
It gives Enzo Maresca a chance to build his team around Anderson, who could become one of the cornerstones of Manchester City’s ongoing project.
Loser: Manchester City’s midfield depth
On the flip side, it leaves Maresca with fewer quality options in midfield. Reijnders may not have justified his hefty price tag, but he contributed 15 goals in all competitions during the 2025-26 season nonetheless.
To lose such a player is hardly ideal; it robs the manager of one proven source of goals in midfield and places more burden on Anderson to manage it all by himself as there isn’t a like-for-like replacement within the squad right now. We’re also unlikely to see City splash another big sum on someone else again this transfer window.