Burkina Faso
Czech Republic
Lithuania
Montenegro
Nigeria
North Macedonia
United Arab Emirates

Riyad Mahrez 'closing in on switch to Al-Ahli'

sportsmole.co.uk, 16 July 2023, 13:01
Manchester City attacker Riyad Mahrez is reportedly closing in on a move to Al-Ahli, having now come to an agreement with the Saudi Arabian outfit over personal terms.

The 32-year-old has been with the Citizens since 2018, representing the club on 236 occasions in all competitions, scoring 78 goals and registering 59 assists in the process.

Mahrez was again an important player for Man City last term, making 47 appearances, scoring 15 goals and registering 13 assists, but he found it difficult to secure starts in the latter stages of the Champions League and was an unused substitute in the final against Inter Milan.

The Algeria international has another two years left to run on his contract in Manchester, and Man City are believed to be keen to keep hold of him this summer.

However, the speculation linking the forward with a move to Saudi Arabia has gathered pace in recent days, with Mahrez capable of commanding an enormous salary in the Saudi Pro League.

According to journalist Ben Jacobs, Mahrez has now come to an agreement with Al-Ahli over personal terms.

Jacobs claims that a deal is yet to be completed, but the attacker is keen on a switch to the Saudi Arabian side, and there is expected to be huge progress over the next 24 to 48 hours.

Al-Ahli have already brought in Edouard Mendy during this summer's transfer window to become their new number one goalkeeper, with the 31-year-old arriving from Chelsea.

Meanwhile, the club have also announced a deal for Roberto Firmino, with the Brazilian forward arriving following his release from Liverpool at the end of June.

Al-Ahli will be back in the Saudi Pro League for the upcoming season, having won the second tier of Saudi Arabian football last term, picking up 72 points from their 34 matches.

Mahrez first arrived in English football from Le Havre in 2014, starring for Leicester for four years, helping the Foxes win the Premier League, before moving to Man City.

The attacker has been a key part of the club's success in recent years, winning the Champions League, four Premier League titles, two FA Cup crowns, three EFL Cup trophies and the Community Shield.

Man City have made one signing thus far this summer, boosting their midfield department with the arrival of Croatia international Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea.

Meanwhile, Ilkay Gundogan has been their major departure, with the experienced midfielder leaving on a free transfer to join Barcelona.

Show more

Top News

23 March 2025 talksport.com Thomas Tuchel will hope to continue his perfect start to his England tenure as the Three Lions take on Latvia on Monday, live on talkSPORT. 23 March 2025 talksport.com Sean Dyche joined talkSPORT on Sunday afternoon and FINALLY talked about the now infamous 'Utter Woke Nonsense' viral meme. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has held talks with MLS outfit San Diego FC ahead of the expiry of his Citizens contract at the end of the season, the American club's sporting director has confirmed. 23 March 2025 talksport.com The international break is almost over with UEFA Nations League games providing fans with their football fix. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Locking horns for the very first time in a senior men's international, Gibraltar and the Czech Republic will scrap it out in Tuesday's World Cup 2026 Qualifying Group L battle at the Estadio Algarve. 23 March 2025 talksport.com Cristiano Ronaldo has hit back at the negativity around Portugal by calling out 'disrespectful' questions during his press conference. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk England have confirmed that Anthony Gordon has withdrawn from the squad after suffering an injury in Friday's 2-0 win over Albania in World Cup 2026 Qualifying. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Azerbaijan will be bidding to bounce back from a shock defeat when they host Belarus in a friendly on Tuesday night. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk First meets second in Tuesday's World Cup 2026 Qualifying Group I showdown, as Israel and Norway seek to maintain their 100% starts at the former's adopted home in Debrecen, Hungary. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Switzerland will be bidding to post their first victory since June 2024 when they host Luxembourg in a friendly on Tuesday night. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk At least one of Moldova and Estonia will collect their first points of World Cup 2026 Qualifying when they lock horns at Stadionul Zimbru on Tuesday evening. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Northern Ireland will be bidding to stretch their unbeaten run of form to six matches when they take on Sweden in an international friendly at Strawberry Arena in Solna on Tuesday night. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Joint-top of the early Group J table, North Macedonia and Wales will lock horns in Skopje on Tuesday night, both aiming to make a perfect start to World Cup 2026 qualifying. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly locked in a two-way battle with Aston Villa to sign Villarreal left-back Sergi Cardona in the summer transfer window. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool attacker Luis Diaz will supposedly 'not hesitate' to leave Anfield if one particular club makes a firm move for him in the summer transfer window. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Both beaten on the opening matchday, Group J outsiders Liechtenstein and Kazakhstan will seek their first points in World Cup 2026 qualifying when they meet in Vaduz on Tuesday. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are hoping to offload under-performing goalkeeper Andre Onana to one of the financial powerhouses of Saudi Arabia this summer, according to a report. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk All transfer business is done and dusted for this season, but that doesn't stop clubs from preparing ahead for next season. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Georgia vs. Armenia (Sunday, 2.00pm) Battling for a place in League B of the UEFA Nations League, Georgia are set to host Armenia at the Boris Paichadze Stadium for the second leg of their playoff on Sunday. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are said to be locked in a battle for Ajax defender Jorrel Hato with the likes of Real Madrid, Arsenal and Chelsea. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly decided to target Stuttgart midfielder Enzo Millot in the summer transfer window. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Peru can leapfrog Venezuela for eighth in CONMEBOL World Cup 2026 qualifying on Tuesday when they travel to Estadio Monumental de Maturin on matchday 14. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly reluctant to extend Diogo Jota's deal at Anfield and are said to be growing increasingly frustrated by the forward. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Cristiano Ronaldo has told Rasmus Hojlund he aims to celebrate in front of the Denmark striker in Sunday's crunch Nations League tie. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna has received a boost as Wolverhampton Wanderers' Matheus Cunha's ban has been extended to four games, meaning he will miss his side's next two fixtures. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Everton Women star Rikke Madsen won't forget her team's 3-0 win over Crystal Palace any time soon. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Cristiano Ronaldo is the most lethal goalscorer in history - but Lionel Messi edges him in the never-ending 'greatest of all time' debate. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool may have one hand firmly on the Premier League trophy, but more recent matches have shown that the Reds board cannot rest on their laurels during the summer transfer window. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk After a disappointing start to World Cup qualifying, Romania will look to get their campaign up and running when they visit Serravalle to face minnows San Marino on Monday night. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Two nations who made the perfect start to World Cup qualifying meet in Zenica on Monday night when Bosnia-Herzegovina host Cyprus.