Tijjani Reijnders Shines in Record-Breaking Performance for Al-Qadsiah
Tijjani Reijnders is wasting no time justifying the price tag.
The Netherlands midfielder, already the most expensive signing in Al-Qadsiah’s history, delivered a statement performance on Tuesday night in Dammam, driving his new club past Al-Ahli in the sixth round of the Saudi Roshn League.
A Night for a Record Signing
Under the lights at Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium, Reijnders dictated the rhythm from the start. When the first real chance fell his way, he didn’t bother with a settling touch or a cautious probe. He went straight for the throat.
Fourteen minutes in, the ball broke to him on the edge of the penalty area. One stride, one clean, rising strike, and Édouard Mendy could only watch it rip past him. Power, precision, and intent in a single moment. Al-Qadsiah had their lead, and their marquee man had his second goal for the club.
The goal changed the mood in the stadium. Al-Qadsiah grew bolder, pushing higher, snapping into challenges. Reijnders, operating between the lines, kept demanding the ball, turning under pressure, driving his team forward.
Al-Ahli tried to settle, to slow the tempo, but the pressure kept building.
Header That Capped a Dominant Half
Just as the first half seemed to be winding down, Reijnders struck again.
Three minutes into stoppage time, Mohammed Abu Al-Shamat found space on the flank and whipped in a teasing cross. Reijnders timed his run perfectly, ghosting into the box and meeting the delivery with a firm header that flew past Mendy for Al-Qadsiah’s third.
It was a striker’s finish from a midfielder who looked completely at ease as the focal point of his team’s attack. Two goals, two very different executions, one clear message: Al-Qadsiah’s record investment is already shaping games.
Outpacing His Manchester City Start
The brace pushed Reijnders’ tally to three goals for Al-Qadsiah since his summer move from Manchester City. He scored his first for the club in only his second appearance, during a composed 2-0 win over Neom in the third round of the Roshn League.
That early surge already outstrips the way he opened last season in England. For Manchester City, he managed just one goal in his first four matches, scoring against Wolverhampton on the opening weekend of the Premier League. Solid, but not spectacular.
In Saudi Arabia, the numbers are climbing faster. The influence is clearer. The responsibility is heavier.
Living Up to 61 Million Euros
Reijnders arrived at Al-Qadsiah under the weight of expectation. According to press reports, the Saudi club paid 61 million euros to prise him away from Manchester City in the last summer transfer window, a fee that instantly made him the most expensive signing in their history.
Deals of that size come with scrutiny. Every touch is judged, every performance measured against the figure on the cheque. So far, he is answering with goals, with presence, and with the kind of authority on the ball that transforms a team’s belief.
The Roshn League is still in its early rounds, and tougher tests will come. But if this is Reijnders still settling in, what happens when he truly hits full stride?
