Transfer Centre

Riyad Mahrez to be offered quintuple-your-money Saudi Arabia contract?

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 27 June 2023

Manchester City attacker Riyad Mahrez is reportedly offered a quintuple-your-money contract to move to Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli this summer.

Manchester City attacker Riyad Mahrez is reportedly set to receive a contract offer from Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Ahli that could see him quintuple his yearly wages.

The 32-year-old hit double figures in goals and assists last season during another productive campaign, scoring 15 goals and setting up 13 more in 47 matches across all tournaments.

Mahrez was a key component in the Citizens' treble-winning machine, but he did not start a single Champions League game beyond the last-16 stage and was an unused substitute in the final.

The former Leicester City man also featured from the first whistle in just over half of Man City's Premier League matches - starting 22 top-flight contests - and he went scoreless in his final 13 league appearances last season.

With Jack Grealish, Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden and Julian Alvarez providing stiff competition in attack, Mahrez was tipped to leave Man City last summer amid reported interest from Paris Saint-Germain.

Manchester City's Riyad Mahrez celebrates scoring their third goal on April 22, 2023 © Reuters

However, the Algeria international instead elected to sign a new deal at the Etihad Stadium, and those terms are not due to expire until the end of the 2024-25 season.

Nevertheless, having also failed to make it onto the pitch for the FA Cup final, Mahrez could be tempted into a summer exit, and the Daily Mail reports that Al-Ahli are readying an astronomical proposal.

The report claims that the Saudi Pro League giants are willing to offer Mahrez a two-year contract worth £43m a year plus bonuses, and the attacker is giving thought to retiring in the Middle East.

Mahrez's recent Man City extension apparently sees him pocket £8.5m per year, but having just become a treble winner with the Citizens, there is naturally an element of doubt in his mind over a summer exit.

Furthermore, Pep Guardiola may be hesitant to let another old of his experienced stalwarts leave, having witnessed captain Ilkay Gundogan complete his move to Barcelona on a free transfer on Monday.

Riyad Mahrez celebrates scoring for Manchester City against Chelsea on January 8, 2023 © Reuters

Mahrez's fellow right-sided attacker Silva is also thought to be attracting interest from Saudi Arabia, with Al-Hilal hoping to take advantage of increasing uncertainty surrounding his Man City future.

Mahrez burst onto the scene with Leicester City during their 2015-16 title-winning season and continued at the King Power Stadium for another two years before moving to Man City in a €67.8m (£58.2m) deal in 2018.

The Algeria international has since registered 78 goals and 59 assists in 236 appearances for Guardiola's side, winning the Champions League, four Premier League titles, two FA Cups, three EFL Cups and two Community Shields.

While a deal for Mahrez is in the works, Al-Ahli are believed to be on the verge of signing Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, who will follow Hakim Ziyech (Al-Nassr) and Kalidou Koulibaly (Al-Hilal) to the Middle East.

Ex-Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino is also the subject of interest from Al-Ahli, who are believed to be making progress in discussions over a three-year deal with the Brazilian.