Riyad Mahrez set for Al-Shamal move after leaving Al-Ahli

Riyad Mahrez is expected to join Qatari club Al-Shamal after almost three months without a club following his departure from Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli.

The 35-year-old Algeria winger is reportedly close to agreeing a move to the Qatar Stars League club, with an agreement expected in the coming hours, according to information from DZfoot.

Mahrez became a free agent after leaving Al-Ahli and has since been linked with clubs in several countries as he considered the next stage of his career.

The former Manchester City player has already ended his international career after the 2026 World Cup but remains keen to continue playing at club level.

Mahrez set for Qatar move

A move to Al-Shamal would bring an end to several weeks of uncertainty surrounding Mahrez’s future.

His name had been linked with clubs in Italy, Spain, Turkey and Brazil, while several possibilities in the Gulf region were also reported.

Como and Deportivo La Coruña were among the clubs associated with the former Algeria captain, while Turkish sides and Brazilian club Botafogo were also mentioned as possible destinations.

None of those moves materialised, however, leaving Mahrez without a club since his departure from Al-Ahli.

The latest reports now point towards Qatar, where Al-Shamal are preparing to bring the experienced winger into their squad.

Individual training in Dubai

Mahrez has been based in Dubai in recent days, where he has been following an individual fitness programme while waiting to decide on his next club.

The training has allowed him to maintain his physical condition after spending several weeks without competitive football.

His move to Al-Shamal would therefore provide a route back into club football after the uncertainty surrounding his future.

Mahrez would also find familiar faces at the Qatari club.

Reunion with Algerian team-mates

A move to Al-Shamal would see Mahrez join several fellow Algerians.

Among them is Baghdad Bounedjah, his former team-mate with the Algeria national side. Omar Rafik and Nassim Benaissa are also at the club.

That familiarity could help Mahrez settle into his new surroundings as he begins what could be another significant stage of his club career.

Al-Shamal finished as runners-up in Qatar and are also competing in the Asian Champions League this season.

Another Asian challenge

𝗥𝗜𝗬𝗔𝗗 𝗠𝗔𝗛𝗥𝗘𝗭 𝗩𝗔 𝗦𝗜𝗚𝗡𝗘𝗥 𝗔̀… 𝗔𝗟 𝗦𝗛𝗔𝗠𝗔𝗟 !!! ✍️🇶🇦

Il devrait y retrouver une vieille connaissance, Baghdad Bounedjah ! 🫂

(@DZfoot) pic.twitter.com/cDUbDRwiLW

— ⭐️ Squadra Khadra 🇩🇿 (@Squadra213) September 30, 2026

The continental competition would offer Mahrez an opportunity to continue playing in a tournament he knows well.

During his three seasons with Al-Ahli, he won the Asian Champions League in consecutive campaigns in 2025 and 2026.

His experience in the competition would therefore be carried into a potential new chapter with Al-Shamal.

The Qatari club’s involvement in the competition could also provide Mahrez with the chance to remain involved at continental level after his successful spell in Saudi Arabia.

Mahrez’s next chapter

Mahrez’s departure from Al-Ahli ended a three-year spell in Saudi Arabia, following a career that had previously taken him to the highest levels of European football.

At 35, the Algerian has now chosen to continue his club career despite bringing his international journey to an end.

A move to Al-Shamal would keep him in the Gulf, a region he has become familiar with since leaving Manchester City for Al-Ahli in 2023.

The winger’s status as a free agent means Al-Shamal would not have to pay a transfer fee, although his move would remain subject to the relevant registration requirements.

After months of speculation about his next destination, Mahrez now appears close to settling his future.

If the reported agreement is completed, the former Algeria captain will begin a new chapter in Qatar, where he would link up with familiar compatriots and compete for a club involved in both domestic and Asian football.