Al Shamal:Algerian football star Riyad Mahrez has officially joined Al Shamal’s first-team squad for the current season, as announced by the club on Wednesday.

According to Qatar News Agency, Mahrez signed the contract in the presence of Meshaal Al Ali, the club’s head of football, after successfully completing the required medical examinations.

At 35, Mahrez is a prominent figure in Algerian football, having played a key role in his national team’s victory at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2019. His club achievements include five English Premier League titles—one with Leicester City and four with Manchester City—alongside three League Cups, two FA Cups, and one FA Community Shield. He also secured a UEFA Champions League title with Manchester City.

Mahrez, who was born in France, began his professional career at Quimper in 2009 before moving to Le Havre. He joined Leicester City in 2014, contributing to their historic Premier League title win in 2016. Later, he moved to Al Ahli in Saudi Arabia in 2023, where he spent three seasons and helped the club win the AFC Champions League Elite in 2025 and 2026, as well as the Saudi Super Cup.

His arrival at Al Shamal is expected to enhance the team’s performance significantly, thanks to his individual talent and extensive experience in both European and Asian competitions. The signing aligns with the club’s ambitions for the ongoing season.

Currently, Al Shamal ranks fifth in the Doha Bank Stars League with eight points. They are set to play against Lusail on Saturday and will face Al Hilal from Saudi Arabia on October 27 in the AFC Champions League Elite.