After leaving Al-Ahli and retiring from the Algerian national team following the 2026 World Cup, Algerian-French winger Riyad Mahrez was linked with several European clubs, including Como and Deportivo La Coruña, as well as teams in Turkey and Brazil, such as Botafogo. However, the 35-year-old has chosen to continue his career in the Gulf. Mahrez has reached an agreement to sign with Al Shamal, a club in the Qatari league. It is reported that the player is in Dubai awaiting the completion of the final steps of the transfer, and is expected to join compatriots Nassim Benaissa and Omar Rafik at his new club. He made 119 appearances for Algeria, scoring 40 goals. According to Transfermarkt, his current market value is €5.00m.