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Riyad Mahrez has completed his transfer from Manchester City to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli.<\/p>\n
The 32-year-old, who had two years left on his contract, has become the latest big-name recruit by the SPL in\u00a0a deal worth up to \u00a330m.<\/p>\n
City paid \u00a360m for Algeria winger Mahrez in 2018, and he scored 15 goals in 47 games in the\u00a0Blues\u2019 Treble-winning campaign last season.<\/p>\n
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\u201cTo play for Manchester City has been an honour and privilege,\u201d said Mahrez.<\/p>\n
\u201cI came to City to win trophies and enjoy my football. I achieved all that and so much more.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve made a lifetime of wonderful memories. Manchester City will forever be a huge and happy part of my life.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mahrez helped City win 10 major honours during five seasons with the club but was an unused substitute for both the FA Cup and Champions League finals.<\/p>\n
City\u2019s director of football, Txiki Begiristain, said: \u201cRiyad has been a major factor in our amazing successes over the past five years and his contribution will not be forgotten.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe is a wonderful footballer to watch and leaves us with so many great memories.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are few wingers that possess his levels of skill and technique in world football, and he will be missed, but everyone will wish him all the best as he begins a new chapter in his career.\u201d<\/p>\n
The likes of Karim Benzema, N\u2019Golo Kante and Ruben Neves have already\u00a0followed Cristiano Ronaldo to Saudi Arabia\u00a0this summer, while\u00a0Steven Gerrard\u00a0has been named Al-Ettifaq manager and\u00a0Michael Emenalo\u00a0has been appointed the SPL\u2019s director of football.<\/p>\n
Former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson became the latest high-profile player to move to Saudi Arabia\u00a0when his transfer to Gerrard\u2019s Al-Ettifaq was confirmed on Thursday.<\/p>\n
The country\u2019s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has also\u00a0taken over four of the SPL\u2019s leading clubs,\u00a0including Al-Ahli, as the league aims to become one of the top five in the world.<\/p>\n
Mahrez was the only senior player to miss\u00a0City\u2019s pre-season tour of Asia.<\/p>\n
The futures of England defender Kyle Walker, Portugal midfielder Bernardo Silva and Spain defender Aymeric Laporte have all been the subject of speculation this summer, but all three have travelled.<\/p>\n
Reports in Germany have suggested Bayern Munich have agreed a deal for Walker, but it is thought they are wide of the mark.<\/p>\n
Portugal full-back Joao Cancelo is also part of the City squad after Bayern chose not to take up the option of turning last season\u2019s six-month loan into a permanent deal.<\/p>\n
It is understood goalkeeper Zach Steffen is absent with a knee injury, although City are open to the idea of the USA international moving on this summer.<\/p>\n
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