Riyad Mahrez signs new contract with the Leicester City

Algerian international Riyad Mahrez has committed his future to Leicester City by signing a new four-year contract.

The reigning PFA Player of the Year has been subjected to numerous transfer rumours linking him with Arsenal. The Gunners identified him as a key transfer target while there was also interest from Europe as well. However, Leicester City have been able to convince the 25-year-old that staying at the King Power stadium is the right decision for all parties concerned.Mahrez has had one great season with Leicester and moving now would have been a major gamble.

IfMahrez is unable to secure a regular first-team football at a new club, he will soon find himself on the bench and struggling to get back. Such issues may not occur at Leicester City in the near future, asMahrez is a major player in Claudio Ranieri’s squad. Rather than chose to be a small fish in a big pond,Mahrez has decided to stay at Leicester. The presence of Champions League football for the reigning Premier League champions is also a major positive. Even though numerous players responsible for the club’s title success last season were linked with other clubs throughout the summer, Leicester have been able to retain much of the core like Jamie Vardy andMahrez.

“It is a super league and I would like to stay here as long as possible.Now, there are two or three clubs in the world, that if they come for me, it definitely makes you think, if you understand what I am trying to say.It [the Premier League] is the best league in the world, the most exciting, where there is the most at stake,” said the winger when asked a few weeks ago about the possibility of leaving Leicester. Mahrez is now the second highest paid player at Leicester behind Jamie Vardy.