​On this day in 2018, Manchester City shattered their transfer record by securing Riyad Mahrez from Leicester City for £60 million, the 27-year-old attacker making a high-profile move to the reigning champions. Mahrez’s rise had been extraordinary since Leicester had snapped him up from Le Havre for a mere £400,000 in 2014, and he had been crowned the PFA Players’ Player of the Year after Leicester City’s remarkable Premier League title triumph in 2015-16. At the time of his arrival, City’s approach and style resonated with Mahrez, who described their play as “perfect” for him and expressed a desire to join a club that was “redefining the English game.” Pep Guardiola, fresh on the back of his first Premier League title in his second season in charge, shared the sentiment, with Mahrez noting that Guardiola was committed to attacking football and that City’s performances in the previous season had been outstanding. He believed that he could develop further under Guardiola’s management and help City achieve sustained success in the years ahead.
The Manchester City project that Mahrez joined quickly bore fruit. Although he began his City career with only 14 league appearances in his first season, he remained undeterred, declaring that he would “stay strong” and fight for his place and his future at the club. City continued to collect silverware, securing the domestic Treble by winning the Premier League title, the Carabao Cup, and the FA Cup. In the years that followed, the club extended its dominance with three additional Premier League titles, two more Carabao Cup wins, another FA Cup, and a Champions League triumph, underscoring the extraordinary success of Guardiola’s era in Manchester.
Over his time at City, Mahrez amassed 78 goals and 59 assists across 236 appearances in all competitions. While Guardiola’s rotation meant that Mahrez was not always a guaranteed starter, he consistently contributed at least 27 Premier League appearances in each of his five seasons and maintained a minimum of 15 league goal involvements after his debut campaign. His refined technique, elegant first touch, and silky, slaloming dribbling style, anchored by his cultured left foot, made him a fan favorite in Manchester. His impact extended beyond club football as he captained Algeria to Nations Cup glory, guiding the national team to one of its most celebrated triumphs.
Mahrez’s international career reached a turning point following Algeria’s Round of 32 exit at the 2026 World Cup, which marked the end of his international tenure. Nonetheless, he continued to play a prominent role for Saudi club Al-Ahli after departing City in 2023. Guardiola’s reflections on Mahrez highlighted the lasting impression he left on the manager’s career: the coach described him as one of the players who most enjoyed football and possessed incredible skills and technical ability. He recalled the special relationship he enjoyed with Mahrez and expressed appreciation for the time they spent together, noting how much pleasure he derived from mentoring the forward during their successful partnership at Manchester City.