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Mohamed Salah to Depart Liverpool After Nine Seasons

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Mohamed Salah Confirms Liverpool Exit After Nine Years

Mohamed Salah will conclude his nine-year tenure at Liverpool Football Club at the end of the current season, an announcement made by the Premier League club and subsequently confirmed by Salah himself. The 33-year-old forward is set to leave a year before his contract was due to expire, with his agent indicating uncertainty regarding his next destination.

Departure Confirmed

Liverpool FC announced Mohamed Salah's departure, stating that an agreement had been reached for the forward to leave at the end of the current season. Salah, who will turn 34, is expected to depart on a free transfer. The club noted Salah's wish to announce his departure early to provide transparency to supporters.

Salah himself confirmed his exit via a social media video, describing it as the "first part of my farewell."

However, Salah's agent and lawyer, Ramy Abbas Issa, subsequently posted on social media, introducing a degree of uncertainty regarding his immediate future club:

"We do not know where Mohamed will play next season. This also means that no one else knows."

Career at Anfield

Since joining from Roma in 2017, Salah has made 435 appearances for Liverpool, scoring 255 goals, which places him third on the club's all-time goal-scoring list. He also ranks fourth among all-time Premier League scorers with 191 goals (including two for Chelsea).

His 189 goals and 92 assists in 310 Premier League appearances for Liverpool total 281 combined goal contributions, the most by a player at a single club in Premier League history. Over his nine seasons, Salah averaged more than 48 appearances annually for Liverpool.

Major Titles Won

During his time at Liverpool, Salah contributed to the team winning eight major titles:

  • Two Premier League titles (2019-20, 2024-25)
  • One UEFA Champions League title (2018-19)
  • One FA Cup (2021-22)
  • Two League Cups (2021-22, 2023-24)
  • One FIFA Club World Cup (2019)
  • One UEFA Super Cup (2019-20)

Individual Accolades

Individually, Salah received numerous accolades, including:

  • Three PFA Player of the Year awards (2018, 2022, 2025)
  • The FIFA Puskas Award (2018)
  • A record-equalling four Premier League Golden Boots (2017-18, 2018-19, 2021-22, 2024-25)

Salah's Statement and Context

In his statement, Salah conveyed his deep connection to the club and city.

"Liverpool is not just a football club. It's a passion, it's a history, it's a spirit,"

He expressed gratitude to teammates and fans, affirming the club will always remain his home.

"I never imagined how deeply this club, this city, these people would become part of my life," and that "Leaving is never easy. You gave me the best time of my life."

The announcement follows a season where Salah's performance levels had reportedly decreased, leading to his exclusion from three consecutive games. He had previously signed a two-year contract extension in April of the previous year, extending his contract through the 2026-27 season.

Salah had also made public statements indicating dissatisfaction, including a claim in December that he felt "thrown under the bus" after being benched for a Leeds United game. He implied that someone wanted him "to get all of the blame." His relationship with manager Arne Slot was described as strained or "nonexistent" earlier in the season. Following the Africa Cup of Nations, he was reintegrated into the team. He has since recorded five goals and five assists in 14 appearances (13 starts) but has been sidelined due to injury.

Speculation on Future and Club's Stance

While his agent stated Salah's next destination is unknown, reports have linked him with moves to the Saudi Pro League, with clubs like Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal mentioned. Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States has also been reported as a potential option.

Liverpool's statement confirmed Salah's focus remains on achieving the best possible finish for the team this season. The club also plans to hold a full celebration of his legacy and achievements at Anfield later in the year upon his departure. The club's ownership, Fenway Sports Group, is anticipated to benefit financially from the removal of Salah's salary from the wage bill, which was reportedly the second highest in the Premier League. This also presents an opportunity for the club to introduce new talent.

Tributes and Assessments

Former teammates, including Andy Robertson, offered tributes to Salah. Current Liverpool players, such as Virgil van Dijk, Alexis Mac Allister, and Curtis Jones, commented positively on Salah's social media post. Manager Arne Slot also shared a picture with Salah, captioned: "We had a good run."

Football columnist and former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher assessed Salah's Premier League legacy:

Carragher stated his belief that Salah's achievements surpass those of Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney. He positioned Salah as second among overseas attacking players in the Premier League, with Thierry Henry rated higher.

Carragher highlighted Salah's consistent performance, goal-scoring statistics, role in Liverpool's successes, and availability throughout his tenure.