Why I Joined Saudi Pro League - Reijnders

Dutch midfielder Tijjani Reijnders has shared his thoughts on moving to the Saudi Pro League. He said the chance to secure a good future for his family made the transfer hard to turn down.

The 28-year-old moved from Manchester City to Al Qadsiah for £51 million in August 2026. He signed a four-year contract worth about €100 million (£86 million).

Reijnders spoke directly to the media about the amazing financial terms. He focused on long-term security for his family instead of typical football talk.

According to football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano on X on Wednesday, Reijnders said, “It’s money for generations of my family.” He continued, “Once my playing career is over, I don’t want to have to work anymore. Of course, I probably wouldn’t have needed to work anymore after my contract at Manchester City either, but this move allows me to secure the future of the next generations of my family.”

While money was a big factor, Reijnders also mentioned that he felt tactical frustration played a part in his decision to leave Manchester City.

After joining from AC Milan in the summer of 2025, he spent just one season under Pep Guardiola. He made 50 appearances and won the FA Cup and Carabao Cup. But he wanted to leave because he was often played in advanced central roles instead of his favorite box-to-box position.

“I’m not going to lie about that,” Reijnders said about the financial reasons. “By signing this contract, I can make sure even my grandchildren are financially secure, so why wouldn’t I do it?”

Reijnders also mentioned that talks with Al Qadsiah manager Brendan Rodgers made him feel confident. He believes he can spend three to four years in the Middle East before possibly returning to European football.

He defended the quality of football in the Saudi Pro League too. He thinks it is better than the Dutch Eredivisie and urged critics to watch some matches before forming an opinion.