Tijjani Reijnders Set for Roshn League Debut with Al-Qadsiah

Al-Ittihad hold the key to Tijjani Reijnders’ Roshn League debut – and they might be the first to feel his impact.

Saudi reports say Al-Qadsiah have reached a full agreement with Manchester City to sign the Dutch midfielder in a deal worth 60 million euros, with “Asharq Al-Awsat” describing the move as virtually done. Every detail is said to be settled. On paper, Reijnders is already an Al-Qadsiah player.

The plan is clear: the 28-year-old is expected to land in Saudi Arabia on Monday to complete the formalities and be unveiled by his new club. From there, attention snaps straight to Friday.

Because that is when Al-Qadsiah face Al-Ittihad in the second round of the Roshn League. And that is when Reijnders could walk straight into the Saudi spotlight.

Whether he does or not will come down to Brendan Rodgers. The Irish coach will decide if the new signing is thrown in immediately or eased into his new surroundings. The stage, though, could hardly be bigger for a first outing.

Reijnders arrives with serious numbers behind him. He joined Manchester City from Milan last summer and forced his way into a stacked squad, racking up 50 appearances in all competitions. Over that span he scored 7 goals and supplied 8 assists, underlining his ability to influence games in the final third as well as in buildup.

For Al-Qadsiah, this is not just a marquee signing, it is a statement of intent. The club are aggressively strengthening their squad ahead of a historic campaign, with an AFC Champions League Elite debut looming. They do not want to simply take part; they want to compete.

Now the question hangs over Friday night: does Rodgers unleash his new Dutch midfielder against Al-Ittihad and let the Roshn League see, immediately, what 60 million euros has bought?