Reijnders "strikes gold" in Saudi Arabia, with a total annual salary exceeding 100 million euros, as Manchester City cuts losses and Milan makes a fortune.

As the 28-year-old Dutch midfielder Reijnders arrives in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, the European football transfer market once again witnesses the "financial might" of the Saudi league. Confirmed by multiple sources, including famous journalist Romano and the Dutch *De Telegraaf*, Reijnders will officially transfer from Manchester City to Saudi club Al-Qadsiah. The transfer fee stands at a staggering 61 million euros, and even more astonishing is that he signed a 4+1-year contract, with total wages exceeding 100 million euros.

A top club's cast-off and the new Saudi elite: a two-way "money game."

Reijnders' departure highlights the tactical reshuffle under Manchester City's new coach, Maresca. Although he won the Premier League title with the team last season, contributing 7 goals and 8 assists, his playing time became unstable as City planned to upgrade their midfield. In the fiercely competitive environment of the Etihad Stadium, once a player in his prime becomes a rotation option or even marginal, leaving for stable minutes and a better salary becomes the most rational career move.

For Al-Qadsiah, spending 61 million euros (far exceeding Reijnders' current market value of 50 million euros on Transfermarkt) to bring in this versatile midfielder is clearly aimed at boosting their strength in the AFC Champions League and the Saudi league. For Reijnders, this is a no-lose deal.

Fans joke: At 28, going to Saudi is just right; at 33, returning to Serie A to wind down?

Faced with this blockbuster deal, fans have turned into "career planning experts," joking that Reijnders' move is a textbook example of a "life winner."

"At 28, going to Saudi is perfect—you've already proved yourself in the top five leagues; after a 4+1 contract, at 33, you can return to Serie A to retire." This widely circulated quip among fans neatly sums up Reijnders' career path. At 28, it's the golden age where a player's physical condition and experience are best combined. Going to Saudi at this time allows him not only to enjoy the massive wealth from tax-free policies but also to become the absolute core under relatively less competitive pressure.

Based on the 4+1-year contract, by the time Reijnders finishes it around age 33, he will have earned enough wealth for several lifetimes, and 33 is still not old for a midfielder. At that point, if he still maintains good form, he can return to Serie A with the experience and funds accumulated in Saudi, like "falling leaves returning to the roots," joining a mid-to-top-tier team to play his part and enjoy pure football.

Manchester City's "Saudi cash machine" attribute is maxed out, while Serie A pockets 14 million euros effortlessly.

This transfer not only achieves Reijnders' personal financial freedom but also benefits both Manchester City and AC Milan. According to statistics, including Reijnders, City's total transfer fees from selling players to the Saudi league in the past three years have reached nearly 150 million euros, firmly placing them as the top "Saudi cash machine" among European clubs.

More interestingly, according to the contract terms when AC Milan sold Reijnders to City, since City sold him before 2030, the Rossoneri will directly receive an additional 14 million euros in variable bonuses. City earns the transfer fee, Reijnders earns the astronomical salary, and Milan earns the sell-on clause. This transfer is truly a win-win-win.

From a champion midfielder in the top five leagues to a hundred-million-euro man in the Saudi league, Reijnders' turn may lack the tragic heroism of fighting on the top stage, but it adds a sense of clarity that belongs to modern professional players. After all, in the world of football, being able to cash in on your ability and secure future money in advance is surely a top-level form of wisdom.

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