The news many Liverpool supporters had been dreading finally arrived this week, as Mohamed Salah confirmed he would be leaving the club at the end of the current season. The Egyptian forward, who has spent nine transformative years at Anfield, will depart on a free transfer despite having 12 months left on a contract worth approximately £500,000 a week. His announcement, delivered through a personal video shared on social media, was a heartfelt tribute to a club he described as having changed his life forever.
Salah’s impact on Liverpool Football Club goes far beyond the numbers, but those numbers are extraordinary regardless. He has scored 255 goals in 435 appearances, making him the club’s third-highest scorer ever, behind only the legendary Ian Rush and Roger Hunt. In addition to four Premier League Golden Boot awards and three PFA Player of the Year accolades, he has helped the team win two league titles, the Champions League, FA Cup, Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup, and two League Cups.
The farewell video Salah posted touched fans worldwide, as he reflected on what nine years of dedication to Liverpool had meant to him personally and professionally. He spoke warmly of the city, the supporters, and the teammates who had formed part of his journey, and promised that Anfield would remain in his heart for the rest of his life. His agent Ramy Abbas Issa added that no decision has been reached on where Salah will play next, ensuring the summer transfer window will be dominated by speculation surrounding his future.
The final season at Anfield was not without its turbulence. A very public dispute with head coach Arne Slot saw Salah dropped for a Champions League fixture at Inter Milan, with the player publicly suggesting his relationship with the manager was nonexistent. Yet he responded in the only way he knows how — with football — most recently scoring a spectacular goal against Galatasaray to become Africa’s first player to score 50 goals in the Champions League. It was a performance that reminded everyone why he is considered among the elite of his generation.
Liverpool confirmed in a statement that Salah had driven the decision to announce early, motivated by his profound respect for the club’s supporters. The team remains in contention in both the Champions League and FA Cup, and Salah, though currently sidelined with a muscle injury, may yet play a part before the season concludes. His farewell tour, as emotional as it will be, remains firmly in progress.