Qatar: It is now confirmed for Riyad Mahrez!

Oct 14, 2026

After several weeks of waiting, Riyad Mahrez has officially joined Al-Shamal. The 2019 Africa Cup of Nations champion has signed for one season with an option for an additional year and will reclaim his iconic number 26.

It is now official: Riyad Mahrez is a new addition to Al-Shamal. As revealed in recent weeks exclusively by DZfoot, the Algerian legend continues his journey in Qatar after leaving Al-Ahli. The 2019 Africa Cup of Nations champion has signed for one season, with an additional year as an option, and will once again wear his famous number 26.

At 35 years old, Al-Shamal represents the sixth club of his career, following Quimper, Le Havre, Leicester City, Manchester City, and Al-Ahli. Throughout his major professional stages, Mahrez boasts an impressive record of 601 matches, 173 goals, and 130 assists. His journey is notably marked by winning the Premier League with Leicester, a treble with City, and two consecutive AFC Champions League titles with Al-Ahli.

However, his arrival does not mean he will return to competition immediately. His new coach, David Prats, has already warned that he does not intend to take risks with the Algerian, who has been without official competition for several weeks. The coach wants to ensure that he is in top physical condition first.

“We want to see if he will be ready at 100%,” said Prats, specifying that Mahrez will only be fielded when he has regained full physical and mental availability. His grand return to the pitch will have to wait a little longer, but a new chapter in his career has officially begun.

DZfoot