Saudi clubs Al-Shabab and Al-Ittihad are competing to sign Algerian Riyad Mahrez in the remaining days of the summer transfer window, according to the Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper.
Riyad Mahrez
Club: Free Agent
Mahrez has been a free agent since his contract with Al-Ahli Jeddah ended this summer.
The report clarified that there is a strong desire from both clubs to secure the player's services and keep him in the Saudi league, after three years he spent with Al-Ahli Jeddah.
The report added that current negotiations are based on Mahrez receiving an annual salary of approximately $10 million, equivalent to about 37.5 million Saudi riyals, while the two clubs are trying to reach a financial formula that allows the deal to be completed during the current transfer window.
Al-Shabab is fighting to win the services of the Algerian star, convinced that he will be a major technical addition to the team.
Meanwhile, Al-Ittihad expresses a similar desire to sign him and benefit from his experience and technical quality, but the difficult financial situation of both clubs makes completing the deal and securing the player's services extremely difficult at this stage.
The report noted that Al-Shabab and Al-Ittihad are pressing to obtain support from the Attraction Program to complete the deal, but these attempts are hindered by the fact that the available financial space for the two clubs within the program is already full, which is delaying the reach of a final formula despite ongoing efforts.
Negotiations are currently underway with Mahrez to find a way for him to remain in the Saudi league, given the desire not to lose one of the league's most prominent stars, especially as he is considered one of the top five players to have joined the Saudi league since 2023, measured by his technical impact and what he delivered during his experience with Al-Ahli Jeddah.
Mahrez spent three years wearing the Al-Ahli Jeddah shirt, leaving a significant mark with the team and contributing to leading them to two consecutive titles in the AFC Champions League Elite, a major achievement for the Saudi club, in addition to his presence as one of the most prominent technical names in the competition in recent seasons.
Mahrez's technical value makes his potential stay in the Saudi league a matter of interest, while the relevant parties are racing against time to reach a financial formula that allows his transfer to be completed, whether to Al-Shabab or Al-Ittihad, without exceeding the specified financial limits.
