Thirty-five years old. Four Premier League titles with Manchester City, a Champions League in 2023, three seasons in Saudi Arabia. Then three months without a club. Riyad Mahrez has finally made his call. But Europe will have to wait.
According to Fabrizio Romano, the Algerian winger gave his verbal agreement to Qatari side Al Shamal on Saturday, October 3. The Italian journalist reported a « deal in place on short term contract ». A free agent since his time at Al Ahli ended in June, the former City star had been keeping fit in Dubai, according to Algérie360. Put simply, only the final paperwork stands between him and an official announcement. The exact length of the deal has not been disclosed.
A reunion already circled on the calendar
At Al Shamal, Mahrez will link up with a familiar face: Baghdad Bounedjah, his former international teammate, who has been at the club since 2024. The Qatari side are competing in this season’s AFC Champions League Elite, a tournament Mahrez knows inside out after winning it with Al Ahli.
And the fixture list has a sense of humour. According to Goal, Al Shamal are due to face Al Ahli on November 23 in that very competition. Mahrez against his old teammates, five months after leaving. That one could sting.