Al Shamal have made a major statement of intent by bringing in Algerian star Riyad Mahrez, with the 35-year-old arriving in Doha on Monday to complete his move to the Qatar Stars League club.
Mahrez is set to join Al Shamal on a free transfer and will undergo his medical at Aspetar on Tuesday before signing a contract that will keep him at the club until the end of the season.
The move comes as Al Shamal look to build on their runners-up finish last season and mount a serious challenge for a maiden league title. The club are also seeking to strengthen their campaign in the AFC Champions League Elite.
Former Manchester City winger is expected take the place of Morocco international Mohamed Rabie Hrimat, who suffered a cruciate ligament injury in Al Shamal’s second-round match against Al Gharafa.
For Al Shamal, the arrival of a player with Mahrez’s experience represents a significant addition to their attacking options. The Algerian has won major honours in England and Saudi Arabia and brings more than a decade of top-level experience.
Mahrez began his professional career with Quimper in 2009 before moving to Le Havre. His breakthrough came at Leicester City, where he became one of the leading figures in the club’s remarkable Premier League title triumph in 2016.
He subsequently spent five seasons with Manchester City, winning four Premier League titles and helping Pep Guardiola’s side claim their first Champions League crown in 2023. Mahrez made 236 appearances for City, scoring 78 goals and providing 59 assists.
In 2023, he moved to Saudi Arabia to join Al Ahli in a deal worth around $40m. During his time with the Jeddah club, he played 122 matches, scoring 37 goals and registering 50 assists, while also helping Al Ahli win the AFC Champions League Elite.
Mahrez has been equally influential for Algeria. He has scored 40 goals in 199 international appearances and was part of the team that won the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt in 2019. He has also featured for Algeria at the 2014 and 2026 World Cups.
