Mohamed Salah to Leave Liverpool: Egyptian Star Announces Summer Exit
Mohamed Salah, Liverpool’s Egyptian forward and one of the Premier League’s most celebrated players, has announced he will abandon Anfield at the end of the current season, despite having a year remaining on his contract. The decision, revealed via a video posted on social media Tuesday, brings to a close a nine-year spell that has seen Salah develop into a modern Liverpool icon.
In a statement released shortly after Salah’s announcement, Liverpool confirmed they had reached an agreement with the player to forego the final year of his contract, allowing him to depart on a free transfer this summer. The club acknowledged Salah’s desire to inform supporters directly and with transparency, citing his “respect and gratitude” for the fanbase.
“Unfortunately the day has come,” Salah said in his video message. “This is the first part of my farewell. I will be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season… Liverpool is not just a football club. It’s a passion. It’s a history. It’s a spirit I can’t explain in words to anyone not part of this club.” He expressed gratitude to teammates, past and present, and to the supporters, stating, “I will be always one of you. This club will always be my home to me and to my family.”
The timing of the announcement, whereas unexpected, reflects a situation that has been developing in recent months. While Salah signed a lucrative contract extension last year, reportedly worth around £500,000 per week with performance bonuses, his form this season has been less consistent than in previous campaigns. A public rebuke of head coach Arne Slot in December, following a period of poor team performance, reportedly strained the relationship between the player and the club.
According to reports, Salah expressed feeling “thrown under the bus” amid the team’s struggles, leading to his omission from the squad for a Champions League match against Inter Milan. While a resolution was reached and Salah was reintegrated into the team, the underlying issues appeared to remain. He recently returned to form, becoming the first African player to score 50 goals in the Champions League with a strike against Galatasaray, but the decision to move forward has been made.
Salah joined Liverpool from Roma in 2017 for a reported £34 million and quickly established himself as a key player, winning two Premier League titles, the Champions League, the Club World Cup, the UEFA Super Cup, the FA Cup, and two League Cups. He has scored 255 goals in 435 appearances for the club, placing him third in Liverpool’s all-time goalscoring list behind only Ian Rush and Roger Hunt.
His agent, Ramy Abbas Issa, stated, “We do not know where Mohamed will play next season. This also means that no one else knows.” This ambiguity fuels speculation about his next destination, with the Saudi Pro League frequently mentioned as a potential suitor. Liverpool reportedly rejected a bid of up to £150 million from Al-Ittihad last year, but the current free transfer arrangement suggests a different path.
Liverpool’s statement indicated that Salah remains focused on achieving the best possible finish to the current season. The team has reached the quarter-finals of both the Champions League and the FA Cup, with matches against Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City respectively scheduled after the international break. Salah is currently sidelined with a muscle injury, but his availability for the match against Manchester City has not been ruled out.