When a Premier League regular swaps Manchester for the Saudi Pro League in a £52 million deal, it’s natural to pause and ask what makes Tijjani Reijnders tick. Born in Zwolle to a Moluccan family, the 28-year-old central midfielder has built a career defined by steady growth rather than flash.
Nationality: Netherlands · Date of Birth: 29 July 1998 (28 years old) · Height: 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) · Position: Central Midfielder · Current Club: Al-Qadsiah (Saudi Pro League) · Man City Appearances (all comps): 50
Quick snapshot
- Dutch professional footballer, born 29 July 1998 in Zwolle (Transfermarkt)
- Full name: Tijjani Martinus Jan Reijnders Lekatompessy (Transfermarkt)
- Plays as central midfielder for Al-Qadsiah and Netherlands national team (Wikipedia)
- Made 50 appearances in all competitions for Manchester City, scoring 7 goals (BBC Sport)
- Exact salary and contract details remain private (BBC Sport does not disclose)
- Market value estimates vary between €40.6m and €49.7m (FootballTransfers)
- Mother’s name and father’s full background not publicly confirmed (BBC Sport)
- Religion and marital status are not disclosed in available sources (BBC Sport)
- Continues career at Al-Qadsiah in Saudi Pro League (BBC Sport)
- Remains part of Netherlands national team setup (Wikipedia)
- Contract runs until 30 June 2030 (FotMob)
The specification table below compiles the verified attributes from official profiles and league data.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Tijjani Martinus Jan Reijnders Lekatompessy |
| Date of birth | 29 July 1998 |
| Age | 28 |
| Place of birth | Zwolle, Netherlands |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
| Position | Central midfielder |
| Current club | Al-Qadsiah (Saudi Pro League) |
| National team | Netherlands |
| Man City appearances (all comps) | 50 |
| Man City goals (all comps) | 7 |
| Transfer to Al-Qadsiah fee | £52 million (€61 million reported) |
The implication: Reijnders’ career path shows a steady climb from AZ Alkmaar to Manchester City and now Al-Qadsiah, with his transfer fee confirming his market standing.
What ethnicity are Tijjani Reijnders?
Is Tijjani Reijnders Indonesian?
- Yes, through his mother. Transfermarkt and Wikipedia confirm he is of Indonesian descent via his Moluccan mother (Transfermarkt; Wikipedia).
Is Tijjani Reijnders a Nigerian?
No. He is not Nigerian. His nationality is Dutch. He was born in Zwolle, Netherlands, and represents the Netherlands national team (Wikipedia).
Why was Reijnders named Tijani?
Tijjani is an Arabic name. According to Wikipedia, his father chose the name — reflecting his Moluccan family’s cultural heritage (Wikipedia). The spelling “Tijjani” is used by most official sources.
Who is Tijjani Reijnders’ mother?
Her name has not been publicly disclosed in available sources. What is known: she is of Moluccan (Indonesian) descent, which gives Reijnders his ties to Indonesia (Transfermarkt).
The pattern: Heritage questions dominate fan inquiry, but the verified facts confirm Indonesian descent without confirming the mother’s identity.
Reijnders’ dual heritage is one of the most asked-about aspects of his profile. For fans curious about his background, the core fact is confirmed: he is of Indonesian descent, but his national team allegiance is firmly with the Netherlands.
What is Tijjani Reijnders’ salary?
Exact salary figures for Tijjani Reijnders are not publicly available. Neither his Manchester City contract nor his Al-Qadsiah deal have been disclosed by the clubs or his representatives. The closest public number is the transfer fee: BBC Sport and ESPN UK both report that Al-Qadsiah paid Manchester City £52 million (€61 million) to secure his services in August 2026 (BBC Sport; ESPN UK).
What is Tijjani Reijnders’ market value?
Market value estimates vary across platforms. FootballTransfers puts his current value between €40.6m and €49.7m (FootballTransfers). SofaScore lists it at €48m (SofaScore), while Soccerway shows €48.9m (Soccerway). FotMob recorded a peak value of €79.3m on 1 November 2025 (FotMob).
Market value is not the same as salary. The wide range — from €40m to €79m — reflects how different models treat his transfer fee, age, and contract length. For Saudi clubs, the fee paid (£52m) is the most reliable signal of his worth.
The implication: Without disclosed salary data, the transfer fee remains the strongest indicator of how Al-Qadsiah values Reijnders.
Is Tijjani Reijnders good?
Performance data from his time at Manchester City suggests a reliable, if not spectacular, midfielder. Over 50 appearances in all competitions, he scored 7 goals (BBC Sport). He was part of the squad that won the FA Cup and Carabao Cup under Pep Guardiola in the manager’s final season (BBC Sport).
Why is Tijjani Reijnders a good signing?
- Versatility: He can play as a central or attacking midfielder, offering tactical flexibility.
- Consistency: Regular minutes in the Premier League and Champions League with Man City demonstrate durability.
- International experience: Regular call-ups for the Netherlands national team (Wikipedia).
“Al Qadsiah & Dutch national team player.”
— Tijjani Reijnders, Instagram bio (Instagram)
Reijnders is a competent Premier League midfielder, not a world-beater. For Al-Qadsiah, his value lies in experience and a respectable goal contribution rate — roughly one goal every seven games. That’s a solid addition for a Saudi club aiming to compete.
What type of midfielder is Reijnders?
Reijnders is a central midfielder by trade. He is not a right midfielder or a defensive specialist. His skillset leans toward ball progression and late runs into the box — reflected in his goal tally from midfield.
Who is the no. 1 best midfielder in the world?
Subjective. Current contenders include Rodri (Manchester City), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), and Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid). Reijnders is not in that conversation, but he is a respected player at a high level.
Who is the best right midfielder in football?
That’s a different position. Reijnders operates centrally, not on the right flank. The best right midfielders in today’s game are typically wingers or wide playmakers such as Mohamed Salah or Bukayo Saka.
The pattern: Reijnders fills a specific central role rather than competing for wider positional accolades.
What is Tijjani Reijnders’ market value?
As noted above, market value estimates range from around €40m to €49m on most platforms, with a peak of €79.3m recorded by FotMob in late 2025. The actual transfer fee of £52m (€61m) paid by Al-Qadsiah is the strongest indication of his market worth (FootballTransfers reports €61m was paid).
The implication: Reijnders’ value proposition rests on proven reliability at the highest level rather than flashy statistics.
Frequently asked questions
How old is Tijjani Reijnders?
He was born on 29 July 1998, making him 28 years old as of 2026.
What is Tijjani Reijnders’ height?
He is 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m).
Which club does Tijjani Reijnders currently play for?
He plays for Al-Qadsiah in the Saudi Pro League, having joined in August 2026.
Does Tijjani Reijnders play for the Netherlands national team?
Yes, he represents the Netherlands at senior international level.
What is Tijjani Reijnders’ Instagram handle?
His official Instagram account is @tijjanireijnders (Instagram).
What is Tijjani Reijnders’ Twitter handle?
His X (Twitter) handle is @tijjanireijnders (X).
Henry William Bennett Murray is a staff writer for CivicInsight.uk, covering UK public affairs, policy and civic life. He works under Editor-in-Chief Rebecca Langford, following the newsroom standards for sourcing, verification and fact-checking set out in our editorial policies.