Tijjani Reijnders has given a candid explanation for his decision to leave Manchester City for Saudi Pro League side Al Qadsiah, admitting that the financial package on offer was simply too significant to turn down.
The Netherlands international completed his move to Al Qadsiah in August 2026 after just one season at Manchester City. According to Dutch public broadcaster NOS, the transfer was worth around €61 million, while Reijnders is reported to have signed a four-year contract worth more than €100 million.
Speaking to Dutch media, Reijnders acknowledged that financial considerations played a major role in his decision.
“When you’re offered that kind of salary… just try saying no,” Reijnders said, explaining that while people may claim they would reject such an offer, a substantial increase in earnings is difficult to ignore.
The 28-year-old also framed the decision around long-term financial security for his family, saying the move could provide enough wealth to secure not only his own future but that of subsequent generations.
Reijnders reportedly said he wants to reach a point where he no longer needs to work after ending his playing career, adding that the Al Qadsiah contract could provide financial security for his grandchildren as well.
“Of course, I probably wouldn’t have needed to work anymore after my contract at Man City either — but this move allows me to secure the future of my family next generations,” he explained.
The midfielder’s move came only a year after he joined City from AC Milan. Manchester City confirmed that Reijnders had made 50 appearances and scored seven goals across all competitions during his single season at the club. He also helped Pep Guardiola’s side win the FA Cup and Carabao Cup during the 2025/26 campaign.
His departure is particularly notable because Reijnders had only recently fulfilled his ambition of playing in the Premier League. When he arrived at City in June 2025 on a five-year contract, he described playing in England’s top flight as a childhood dream.
Before joining City, Reijnders had established himself at AC Milan after moving from AZ Alkmaar in 2023. Milan extended his contract to 2030 in March 2025, with reports at the time indicating that his annual salary had risen to around €3.5 million.
The move to Saudi Arabia therefore represents a dramatic change in the financial scale of his career. Dutch outlet Voetbal International has reported that Reijnders’ Al Qadsiah contract could provide approximately €100 million net over four to five years, although that figure is reported rather than an officially disclosed contract value.
Reijnders has also indicated that the decision was not exclusively financial. He has reportedly cited sporting considerations and has not ruled out a future return to European football. At Al Qadsiah, he joins a squad featuring prominent names including Julian Quiñones, Mateo Retegui and former Real Madrid defender Nacho Fernández.
For Reijnders, however, the financial dimension is one he makes no attempt to disguise.
The move from one of Europe’s biggest clubs to the Saudi Pro League after only one season at Manchester City has consequently become one of the more striking examples of the financial pull of Saudi football — and Reijnders’ own explanation makes clear that securing his family’s long-term future was central to the decision.
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