He came from Roma for £36.9 million in the summer of 2017, and most people thought that was a reasonable fee for a decent wide forward who had struggled to adapt to English football at Chelsea. Nine years later, Mohamed Salah leaves Liverpool as the club's third-highest goalscorer in history with 255 goals in 435 appearances. The re-evaluation of that transfer fee is one of football's great jokes. Liverpool got the best footballer of a generation for less than some clubs pay for a backup goalkeeper.
The departure was announced back in March, when Salah and Liverpool mutually agreed to cut short his contract rather than let the situation drag on through an awkward final season. His relationship with manager Arne Slot had deteriorated badly, with Salah publicly stating that the two barely spoke. Liverpool reportedly felt Salah had become a distraction during a turbulent phase in the league season. The early termination spared both parties a slow-motion breakdown.
What He Gave Liverpool
There are individual seasons that stand alone in Premier League history, and Salah's 2017-18 campaign is one of them — 32 goals in a single league season, breaking the record set when the competition moved to a 38-game format. He went on to win the Champions League, the Premier League, the FA Cup, the League Cup and the Club World Cup with Liverpool, all while racking up 22 and 23-goal seasons so regularly that they started to feel routine. The Egyptian press called him the Pharaoh. Liverpool supporters called him a god. Neither felt like an exaggeration during his peak years.
Where Does He Go Next?
That question remains genuinely open. Salah's agent has confirmed that no decision has been made, though clubs from the Saudi Pro League and Major League Soccer have both registered serious interest. At 33, Salah is at an age where the commercial pull of those markets grows stronger, but he has shown no signs of physical decline this season, and a return to a European giant cannot be ruled out. Barcelona have been mentioned, as has a surprise comeback to the Italian league. The player himself has stayed quiet on his destination, which only adds to the intrigue.
Liverpool's Problem
For Liverpool, the more pressing issue is replacing him. Salah has been one of the three or four most productive attackers in European football for the better part of a decade. Jarrod Bowen has emerged as one potential option. None of them are Mohamed Salah, and that is simply a fact the club has to accept as they move into a new era.
Transfer context: Mohamed Salah, 33, joined Liverpool from AS Roma in June 2017 for £36.9m. He scored 255 goals in 435 appearances. His contract was mutually terminated in March 2026. Current destination: unknown. Saudi Pro League and MLS clubs reported to have made contact.
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