From Leicester title winner to Qatar bound — Riyad Mahrez's next chapter emerges

Riyad Mahrez is acceptable to motion for Qatari nine Al Shamal, according to reports, bringing 1 of the astir singular careers successful North African shot past to a caller section little than a twelvemonth aft his last World Cup appearance.

The 35-year-old has been without a club since leaving Al Ahli astatine the extremity of the Saudi Pro League season, and a ceremonial statement with Al Shamal — presently Qatar's vice-champions — is understood to beryllium close, with a aesculapian and declaration signing expected imminently.

Mahrez's travel from Leicester to the Gulf

The determination continues a trajectory that remains bonzer by immoderate measure. Mahrez emerged arsenic a globally recognised endowment astatine Leicester City, wherever helium registered 17 goals and 11 assists successful the 2015-16 play that produced 1 of the astir improbable league rubric wins successful English shot history. Five seasons astatine Manchester City followed, delivering 4 further Premier League titles and a Champions League.

Having departed arsenic a escaped agent, Mahrez spent three seasons successful Saudi Arabia with Al Ahli, wherever helium was 1 of the header names successful the Saudi Pro League and won back-to-back AFC Champions League titles nether Matthias Jaissle — the aforesaid brag present successful complaint astatine Newcastle United. His wage astatine Al Ahli reached astir £43m per year, making him 1 of the highest-paid players successful the world.

A World Cup farewell and status from planetary duty

The Algeria skipper made his 2nd World Cup quality this summertime earlier announcing his planetary status arsenic the all-time grounds holder for appearances with the nationalist side. Mahrez scored doubly and provided an assistance arsenic Algeria precocious from the radical signifier earlier falling to Switzerland successful the past 16.

At Al Shamal, helium volition nexus up with erstwhile Arsenal and Villarreal centre-back Pablo Mari, Jeison Murillo who has acquisition astatine Barcelona and Inter Milan, and erstwhile Algeria team-mate Baghdad Bounedjah. Al Shamal volition connection considerably little than Al Ahli's package, but volition supply a competitory situation against a backdrop of reduced idiosyncratic request successful the last signifier of his career.