Tijjani Reijnders has explained why he chose to leave Manchester City for Saudi Pro League side Al Qadsiah, saying the deal will secure the future of his family for generations.
The Dutch midfielder, 28, made the comments in remarks reported by football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano on X.
“It’s money for generations of my family,” Reijnders said.
“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.”
Reijnders joined Al Qadsiah from City for £51 million in August 2026 on a four-year contract reportedly worth about €100 million (£86 million).
“I’m not going to lie about that. By signing this contract, I can make sure even my grandchildren are financially secure, so why wouldn’t I do it?”
He also pointed to football reasons. After one season at City following his 2025 move from AC Milan, he made 50 appearances under Pep Guardiola and won the FA Cup and Carabao Cup. However, he was often used in advanced central roles instead of his preferred box-to-box position.
Reijnders said Al Qadsiah manager Brendan Rodgers convinced him he could spend three to four years in the Middle East before possibly returning to European football.
He also rated the Saudi Pro League above the Dutch Eredivisie and urged critics to watch its matches before judging it.
