Tijjani Reijnders’ move to Al Qadsiah is the latest instalment in Manchester City’s midfield exodus, a summer haemorrhage that has reshaped Pep Guardiola’s squad before a season where even the Community Shield defeat to Arsenal has exposed the depth crisis. The Dutchman’s £51m switch follows Rodri’s £65m departure to Barcelona, John Stones’ exit to Chelsea, and Bernardo Silva’s return to Portugal, leaving City’s midfield threadbare just as Enzo Maresca prepares for his first competitive campaign. With only Elliot Anderson’s £116m arrival from Nottingham Forest to offset these losses, the question now is whether City can rebuild fast enough to reclaim the Premier League title.
Reijnders’ exit caps a chaotic summer
Reijnders leaves after one season at the Etihad, having made 50 appearances and scored seven goals following his £46.5m arrival from AC Milan. His departure, accepted by City for around £51m, continues a pattern of midfield haemorrhaging that began with Rodri’s move to Barcelona and Stones’ switch to Chelsea. The departures have left City’s midfield threadbare, with Maresca admitting publicly that he wants to strengthen the squad before the new season kicks off. The timing could hardly be worse: City’s heavy defeat to Arsenal in the Community Shield exposed the lack of cohesion in a side that has now failed to win the Premier League in each of the last two seasons. The absence of key midfielders like Reijnders and Savinho from the squad only underlined the scale of the rebuild required.
Midfield depletion forces Maresca’s hand
City’s transfer activity this summer has been reactive rather than strategic. Anderson’s arrival from Forest is the club’s most significant signing, but it does little to address the creative void left by Rodri’s departure. The club are now reportedly targeting Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi and Chelsea’s Enzo Fernández, but neither deal is guaranteed. The pressure on Maresca is immediate: City face Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, and newly promoted Coventry City before the first Manchester derby on 13 September. The squad’s thinness was evident in the Community Shield, where City were outplayed by a more settled Arsenal side. Reijnders and Savinho were left out of the squad, a decision that hinted at the broader uncertainty in the dressing room. With no clear replacements in place, Maresca’s ability to steady the ship will be tested early.
The Saudi factor: why Reijnders chose Al Qadsiah
Reijnders’ move to Al Qadsiah, where he will reunite with former Liverpool and Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers, reflects the growing appeal of the Saudi Pro League as a destination for Europe’s top talent. The Dutchman’s statement to City’s website—”I have been incredibly privileged to play for Manchester City, and I have relished every minute of my time here”—was a diplomatic nod to his time at the Etihad, but the financial pull of Saudi Arabia proved decisive. The Saudi club’s announcement video, which framed Reijnders as the final piece of a jigsaw, underscored the league’s ambition to attract marquee names. For a player who won a domestic cup double with City last season, the move is a pragmatic one, even if it represents a step down in competition. The question now is whether City can replicate that success without the midfield spine that defined their dominance under Guardiola.
City’s midfield crisis is not just about personnel; it’s about identity. Rodri’s departure to Barcelona has left a tactical void that no amount of transfer spending can immediately fill. The club’s financial constraints, exacerbated by the ongoing Premier League charges, mean that Maresca must work with what he has—and fast. The next two weeks will be critical, with Bouaddi and Fernández the most likely candidates to steady the ship. But if City are to avoid a third consecutive season without a league title, Maresca will need more than just signings; he’ll need to restore the confidence that has defined City’s best teams. Reijnders’ exit is just the latest reminder that the Etihad is no longer the only destination for ambition.
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