# Manchester City Agree £30m Deal to Sell Riyad Mahrez to Al-Ahli
Manchester City have agreed a £30m deal with Al-Ahli to sign Algeria winger Riyad Mahrez. The 32-year-old has been given permission not to travel on City’s pre-season trip to Japan and South Korea, as long as City received a bid that matched their valuation of Mahrez, who had two years left on his contract.
## Mahrez’s Impact at Manchester City
Manchester City paid £60m for Mahrez in 2018 and he scored 15 goals from 47 games last season as the Blues won the Treble. However, he was an unused substitute for both the FA Cup and Champions League finals and manager Pep Guardiola has opted to let him become the latest big-name recruit by a Saudi Pro-League side.
## The Growing Trend of Big-Name Transfers to the Saudi Pro-League
The transfer of Mahrez to Al-Ahli is the latest in a growing trend of big-name transfers to the Saudi Pro-League. In recent years, the league has attracted some of the biggest names in world football, including former Real Madrid stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, as well as Barcelona’s Luis Suarez.
The influx of talent has seen the league become one of the most competitive in the world, with teams such as Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr challenging for titles. The arrival of Mahrez will add even more quality to the league and could help Al-Ahli challenge for the title this season.
## What Does This Mean for Manchester City?
The sale of Mahrez will free up funds for Manchester City to reinvest in their squad. With the club looking to build on their success of last season, they may look to use the money from Mahrez’s sale to bring in new players and strengthen their squad.
The departure of Mahrez also means that City will have one less experienced player in their squad. While he may not have been a regular starter last season, his experience and quality could have been invaluable in helping the team defend their Premier League title this season.
## Conclusion
Manchester City have agreed a £30m deal with Al-Ahli to sign Algeria winger Riyad Mahrez. The transfer will free up funds for Manchester City to reinvest in their squad, while also removing an experienced player from their ranks. The move is part of a growing trend of big-name transfers to the Saudi Pro-League, which is becoming one of the most competitive leagues in the world.