Riyad Mahrez closes in on move to Qatar’s Al Shamal

Riyad Mahrez has arrived in Doha as he prepares to join Al Shamal on a free transfer, with the Algeria international set to undergo a medical before completing the move.

The 35-year-old forward reached the Qatari capital on Monday and will have his medical at Aspetar hospital. He is expected to sign a contract running until the end of the current season.

Mahrez is also in line to be registered in Al Shamal’s squad in place of Moroccan midfielder Mohamed Rabie Hrimat, who suffered a cruciate ligament injury during the club’s match against Al Gharafa in the second round of the Qatar league.

Al Shamal finished runners-up in the Qatar league last season and are hoping Mahrez’s arrival can strengthen their bid to win the competition for the first time in the club’s history. The move is also intended to boost their campaign in the current AFC Champions League Elite.

The experienced Algeria player has enjoyed a distinguished career in European football. He began his professional career with Quimper in 2009 before moving to Le Havre, where his performances earned him a move to Leicester City.

Mahrez played a leading role as Leicester won the English league title in 2016, one of the most notable achievements of his career.

He subsequently spent five seasons with Manchester City, winning the English league four times and helping the club claim the UEFA Champions League for the first time in its history in 2023.

Mahrez made 236 appearances for Manchester City, scoring 78 goals and providing 59 assists. He left the club for Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli in the summer of 2023 in a deal worth about $40m.

During his time with Al-Ahli, Mahrez played 122 matches, scoring 37 goals and creating 50 more. He also helped the club win the AFC Champions League Elite.

At international level, Mahrez has scored 40 goals in 199 appearances for Algeria. He was part of the team that won the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt in 2019 and has featured at the 2014 and 2026 World Cups.