Reijnders moves to Al-Qadsiah as Manchester United bids for Baleba, Inter pursues Jones
Tijjani Reijnders, a Netherlands international midfielder, completed his transfer from Manchester City to Saudi Pro League club Al-Qadsiah on Wednesday. This move comes as Manchester United and Inter Milan are reportedly increasing their efforts to strengthen their respective midfields.
Reijnders’ transfer to Al-Qadsiah is reportedly valued at approximately £52 million, or around $70 million. He spent one season with Manchester City, during which he made 50 appearances across all competitions and scored seven goals. The 28-year-old midfielder has reportedly signed a five-year contract with the Saudi club, which is managed by Brendan Rodgers.
Before joining Manchester City, Reijnders was with AC Milan, from whom City acquired him for £46.5 million last summer. His departure from City follows other senior midfielders, including Rodri, who moved to Barcelona, and Bernardo Silva, who transferred to Real Madrid on a free.
Reijnders also participated in the 2026 World Cup, starting in all three of the Netherlands’ group-stage matches. However, he was an unused substitute during their round-of-32 defeat against Morocco.
Manchester United’s bid for Baleba
Manchester United has reportedly submitted an offer of £65 million for Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba. The proposed deal includes £60 million upfront and an additional £5 million in add-ons. However, this offer is reportedly below Brighton’s valuation of the player.
The 22-year-old Cameroon international has reportedly agreed to personal terms with United, with negotiations between the clubs still ongoing. Baleba is expected to fill the defensive midfield role, potentially replacing Casemiro. United has already secured the services of Belgium international Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa for £35 million.
Inter Milan targets Jones
Meanwhile, Inter Milan is in discussions with Liverpool regarding a potential transfer for English midfielder Curtis Jones. The Italian club has reportedly offered up to €35 million, which is equivalent to approximately £30 million.
Jones, who is 25 years old, has entered the final year of his contract with Liverpool. Since his senior debut in 2019, he has made 228 appearances for the club. Last season, he played 49 times across all competitions, though he only started 18 Premier League matches as he aimed to secure a regular starting position under Arne Slot.
Al-Qadsiah’s new stadium developments
The arrival of Reijnders at Al-Qadsiah coincides with significant developments for the club’s infrastructure. Reports from Saudi newspaper “Al-Riyadiyah” indicate that the Aramco Stadium, which is set to host the team’s matches, is nearing completion.
Workers have reportedly finished the transport and installation of the pitch, utilising advanced specialised technologies for building world-class sports stadiums. This makes the pitch ready to host matches. The Aramco Stadium is designed to accommodate around 47,000 spectators across various categories, featuring advanced hospitality facilities and digital services to improve access and movement within the venue.
The stadium includes 15 internal gates, supported by smart crowd management systems and advanced solutions designed to organise fan movement and reduce congestion before and after events. Technologies borrowed from European stadiums have been incorporated, such as a system within the pitch to draw off rainwater, accelerate drainage, and minimise its impact during matches.
Ventilation is another key feature, linked to an air-conditioning system with a capacity of 22,500 tonnes of cooling, covering all areas of the stadium. During the design phase, airflow at the Aramco Stadium was precisely calibrated using advanced simulation technologies to ensure high levels of comfort and efficiency, even in challenging climatic conditions. These efforts by Al-Qadsiah aim to create optimal conditions, especially as the team is set to participate in the AFC Champions League Elite for the first time in its history.
Source: aa.com.tr
