Many players have likely signed with clubs in Saudi Arabia primarily for money, but Tijjani Reijnders has taken the rare step of actually admitting it.
The Netherlands international spent one season with Manchester City before making a reported £52 million ($69 million) transfer to Saudi Arabian club Al Qadsiah over the summer.
Some accused the 28-year-old of moving to the Saudi Pro League for money. He wouldn't deny those claims.
"Me a money grabber? I can't deny that," Reijnders told NOS.
After moving from AC Milan in 2025, Reijnders said he was unhappy with the role he played at City. The midfielder sees himself as a box-to-box player but with the Premier League side, he was being deployed higher up the pitch as a No. 10.
As he started to look
for a new club after the World Cup, he was initially skeptical of moving to Saudi Arabia.
"I think many people have the idea that your career as a top footballer is over when you choose to take such a step. I had that feeling at first too," Reijnders said.
But Reijnders said that after speaking to Al Qadsiah manager Brendan Rodgers, he started to come around to a lucrative detour in his career.
"He said that I can play here perfectly fine for three or four years with great pleasure and then go back to Europe. There are plenty of examples of that now. That is also my goal," Reijnders said.
Reijnders has started well with Al Qadsiah, scoring three goals in five league games. He was called up for the Netherlands' first matches under new coach Xavi, as the Oranje prepare for four upcoming UEFA Nations League games.
With a contract that will pay him a reported €100 million ($114 million) over four years, Reijnders was blunt about his rationale for moving to the Middle East.
"You can always play the moral crusader, but I think everyone would say yes to that," Reijnders said. "I don't want to work anymore after my career. I didn't have to anymore after City, but now I can also do well for generations after me."
He added: "If my grandchildren can also live well because of this choice, why wouldn't I do it?"
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Former Man City midfielder Tijjani Reijnders admits Saudi move was for money
