€61 Million Transfer Fee and €20 Million Salary Made Reijnders an Impossible Target
Galatasaray explored the possibility of signing Tijjani Reijnders during the summer transfer window, but the financial terms involved quickly put the Manchester City midfielder beyond the Turkish club’s reach. Saudi side Al-Qadsiah was prepared to offer a reported €61 million transfer fee and a salary of €20 million, figures that left little room for Galatasaray to compete.
The scale of the proposed package meant the race was effectively decided before negotiations could develop. Even if Galatasaray were interested in bringing Reijnders to Istanbul, matching Al-Qadsiah’s offer would have required a major financial commitment. The Saudi club’s bid changed the balance of the situation, making a move to Turkey highly unlikely.
For Galatasaray, the episode highlights the challenge of pursuing established players in a market where wealthy clubs can raise both transfer fees and wages to extraordinary levels. A club may identify a player as a sporting priority, but that does not guarantee it can meet the demands of the selling side or the player’s representatives.
The reported €61 million fee is a substantial obstacle in itself. A transfer of that size would require careful consideration of its effect on the club’s budget and future recruitment plans. The salary demand adds another layer: wages at that level can reshape a team’s pay structure and create expectations that are difficult to manage over several seasons.
Reijnders therefore appeared to be an unrealistic target not because Galatasaray lacked interest, but because the financial competition was on a different scale. Al-Qadsiah’s offer left the Turkish club with limited options, while the player’s potential move became tied to terms that would be difficult for most European sides to match.
The situation also reflects a wider change in the transfer market. Saudi clubs have become serious competitors for high-profile players, using sizeable fees and salaries to attract talent. For teams outside Europe’s richest group, the result can be that negotiations end before a formal offer is even possible.
Galatasaray may now need to look for alternatives who can strengthen the squad without requiring a comparable investment. That does not necessarily mean pursuing a lower-quality player; it may instead involve focusing on a different profile, negotiating a loan, or targeting a player whose contract situation makes a transfer more affordable.
The club’s decision will also depend on its priorities across the squad. Spending a large share of its resources on one midfielder could limit its ability to address other positions. A more balanced recruitment plan may offer greater value, particularly if the financial gap with Al-Qadsiah cannot be closed.
The Reijnders pursuit, as described in the report, ended up being a question of affordability rather than ambition. With a €61 million fee and a €20 million salary on the table, the conditions were simply beyond Galatasaray’s reach.
Other football headlines in the same roundup included Acun Ilıcalı’s reported move to take another promising Turkish player abroad, and Kerem Demirbay’s claim that his interview remarks had been misrepresented. Fenerbahçe’s basketball team, Tarfin, lost 92-74 to Panathinaikos. Mauro Icardi was reported to have won his divorce case, leaving Wanda Nara facing an unexpected ruling on financial support.
The roundup also said UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin had changed his position and would stand for the role again, while the Turkish Football Federation board was due to meet to consider whether to call an election. Galatasaray was linked with a possible approach for Eduardo Camavinga, with the final decision resting with the player. Barış Alper Yılmaz’s versatility was said to benefit Rafael Leão by improving his chances of securing a regular place.
Further items covered uncertainty surrounding Nicolo Zaniolo’s prospects at his new club and questions over a reported injury issue involving Galatasaray defender Wilfried Singo. İsmail Kartal was mentioned in connection with Romelu Lukaku and a plan involving Marco Asensio at Fenerbahçe. There was also concern that Victor Osimhen might struggle to recover in time for the Fenerbahçe derby, while Orkun Kökçü was expected to receive support from “Rijit.” Trabzonspor’s decision concerning Anthony Taylor was reportedly reversed, Thomas Reis was described as having a chance to seek revenge, and Alexander Nübel was said to have recommended a centre-back to Vincenzo Italiano.