According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Tijjani Reijnders is close to completing a move from Manchester City to Saudi Pro League club Al-Qadsiah, a transfer that could earn his former side Milan an additional €14m.
The Dutch midfielder is reportedly being considered for a move worth about €60m. Nottingham Forest are also understood to be a possible destination, but Reijnders’ eventual club is not the decisive issue for Milan. What matters most is the timing of the transfer.
Reijnders joined Manchester City from Milan last summer. The deal included a fixed fee of approximately €55m, along with a series of performance-related bonuses that could have taken the total value of the transfer to €14m more.
Some of those add-ons were considered relatively straightforward to achieve, including qualification for the Champions League. Others were more demanding, such as winning a trophy or receiving the Ballon d’Or. However, a separate provision in the agreement means Manchester City would have to pay the entire €14m bonus package if Reijnders is permanently sold during this year’s summer transfer window.
That payment would be due even if the individual conditions attached to the bonuses had not been fulfilled.
The clause has made the latest developments particularly significant at Milan, where officials at the club’s headquarters on Via Aldo Rossi have been following the situation closely. The club is still waiting for part of the transfer income it had expected from player sales, making the potential additional revenue especially valuable.
Reijnders’ departure from Milan last summer was met with disappointment by a section of the club’s support. Many fans felt the midfielder could have commanded a higher fee, particularly after an initial period of adjustment was followed by a marked improvement in his performances.
His form attracted interest from several leading European clubs before he moved to Manchester City. During his time at Milan, former manager Stefano Pioli often referred to him as “Tigi”. Just a year after leaving, Reijnders could now provide Milan with a further financial return through the terms of his original transfer.
The financial implications may be welcomed by the club, but supporters are likely to remain reluctant to see the Netherlands international move on again. Some fans believe Reijnders could have been well suited to an attacking midfield role in Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system, a scenario that would have made the prospect of keeping him easier to accept.
For Milan, though, the identity of Reijnders’ next club is secondary. If he leaves Manchester City on a permanent transfer this summer, the contract is expected to trigger the full €14m payment, regardless of whether he joins Al-Qadsiah or another club such as Nottingham Forest.
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