Photo: Wikimedia Commons (free licence), cropped and styled by SportNestra — author and licence
Riyad Mahrez is joining Al Shamal in Qatar. The club announced the signing of the former Algeria international on Wednesday, a few months after his departure from Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli. Aged 35, Mahrez returns to the pitch after a three-month absence following the end of his time with the Saudi club. Al Ahli announced his departure on 4 July.
Al Shamal accompanied its announcement with a message looking ahead: “His left foot wrote history, and our ambition writes the next chapter. Riyad Mahrez in Al Shamal colours.”
The move comes after three years at Al Ahli, where Mahrez played 122 matches, scored 37 goals and provided 46 assists. He also won two consecutive editions of the AFC Champions League Elite, in 2025 and 2026.
Earlier in his career, Mahrez began playing professionally at Havre before joining Leicester City in 2014. He helped the club win the Premier League title in 2016, then continued his career at Manchester City, winning several domestic and continental honours, including the Champions League, before moving to Al Ahli.
After Al Ahli announced the end of his time at the club, Mahrez had also announced his retirement from international football, following 12 years with Algeria’s national team. He helped the side reach the World Cup round of 16 for the first time, at the 2014 tournament in Brazil, and then win the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. He also led the team to the second round of the 2026 World Cup, held in North America.
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