Algerian star Riyad Mahrez has settled on his next career destination after reaching a verbal agreement to join Qatari side Al-Shamal on a short-term contract, following the conclusion of his stint with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ahli last summer.
According to transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano, the agreement is fully in place, with only final administrative details remaining before the deal is officially sealed. Consequently, while a complete understanding exists between both parties, the move has not yet been formally announced.
The 35-year-old former international winger is set for his first campaign in the Qatari Stars League, having spent the majority of his career across France and England before making his move to the Saudi Pro League in the summer of 2023.
Imminent Al-Ahli Reunion in AFC Champions League Elite
Mahrez’s initial appearances for Al-Shamal could feature an emotional showdown against his former club. Al-Shamal are scheduled to host Al-Ahli on November 23 at Al Bayt Stadium in Matchday 5 of the AFC Champions League Elite league stage.
The fixture would mark Mahrez’s first match against Al-Ahli since his departure, granting him an immediate return to a continental competition where he previously achieved significant success with the Jeddah side.
During his tenure with Al-Ahli, Mahrez made 122 appearances across all competitions, scoring 37 goals and providing 46 assists before parting ways with the club one year prior to the expiration of his contract.
He was a pivotal figure in guiding Al-Ahli to back-to-back AFC Champions League Elite titles as well as the Saudi Super Cup, departing after recording 83 direct goal contributions.
From Leicester and Manchester City Success to Qatar
Mahrez launched his senior career in France with Quimper and Le Havre before transferring to Leicester City, where he played a central role in the club’s fairytale 2015–16 Premier League title triumph and was named PFA Players’ Player of the Year.
He recorded 48 goals in 179 appearances for Leicester before joining Manchester City in 2018. Across 236 matches under Pep Guardiola, Mahrez registered 78 goals and 59 assists, winning four Premier League titles, the UEFA Champions League, and forming part of the historic treble-winning squad in 2023. At the international level, he previously captained Algeria to Africa Cup of Nations glory in 2019.
What Awaits Mahrez at Al-Shamal
Al-Shamal currently occupy third place in the Qatari Stars League with 8 points from 4 matches, remaining undefeated with two wins and two draws while scoring 10 goals and conceding 6.
Mahrez is set to join a squad that features his compatriot Baghdad Bounedjah—the team’s current league top scorer with 3 goals—alongside Tunisian midfielder Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane, Álex Collado, Pablo Marí, Jeison Murillo, and Abdelkarim Hassan.
His addition provides Spanish head coach David Prats with an elite playmaker capable of deciding high-stakes matches, allowing Mahrez to maintain his competitive edge both domestically and continentally following his retirement from international football after the 2026 World Cup.
