​As the old adage goes, all good things eventually come to an end, and Riyad Mahrez’s spell with Al Ahli is a case in point. It has been a week since the Roshn Saudi League club revealed that, after three standout seasons, 122 appearances across all competitions, 37 goals, and two continental titles, their Algerian wide man would be moving on. The departures of Mahrez—and Franck Kessie, the Ivory Coast captain who follows him out of the door—feel like the closing of a chapter in Al Ahli’s history as the club enters a new era, with revised ambitions and a slate of fresh faces.
Yet while Mahrez is gone, his mark will endure. He leaves Al Ahli, as he did at Leicester City and Manchester City, with a lasting legacy of excellence and silverware. Although he did not manage to deliver a drought-ending Roshn Saudi League title for the club, the back-to-back AFC Champions League Elite crowns still stand as a powerful testament to his impact.
One of European football’s finest wingers, Mahrez arrived in Saudi Arabia in 2023, fresh from Manchester City’s treble triumph. Alongside the likes of Karim Benzema, Neymar, and Cristiano Ronaldo, he formed part of the early wave of high-profile foreign arrivals intended to ignite the top flight. And he did not disappoint. Mahrez’s style and personality were a seamless fit for Al Ahli, who were returning to the Roshn Saudi League after a first-ever foray into the second tier of Saudi football. The club aimed to reestablish itself as a premier outfit, and Mahrez helped them pursue that goal.
Some observers would describe Al Ahli as more understated than the other members of the so-called “Big Four,” much like Mahrez himself. The Algeria international has never sought the loudest spotlight; he has preferred to let his football do the talking. And, indeed, his play spoke volumes in Jeddah.
Admittedly, Mahrez may have lost a step at times, but he never surrendered his defining flair. If anything, he evolved into a smarter operator on the right flank, drifting inside and wielding his left foot as a lethal, creative instrument. Over three full seasons with Al Ahli, Mahrez racked up 46 assists across all competitions—31 of them in the Roshn Saudi League—leaving rivals far behind in that department. His highlights were numerous and difficult to catalog in full, but a few stand out as emblematic of his time in Saudi Arabia.
Two goals against Al Ittihad last season, which helped Al Ahli complete the league double over their cross-town rivals, were particularly significant. Then there was the exquisite free-kick against Al Kholood in a 2-1 victory. Those moments are just a snapshot of the special memories Mahrez leaves behind, a testament to the quality and influence he brought to the pitch.
But it was more than goals that illuminated the league. It was the wizardry with the ball, the elegant first touch, the aura of class he carried in every move. On the continent, however, he remains the footballing magician, a figure whose performances and charisma have etched a lasting impression wherever he has played. Mahrez’s departure marks the end of an era, yet his influence on Al Ahli—and Saudi football—will endure long after his time in Jeddah has ended.