It is official. After nine years, 255 goals and memories that will last a lifetime, Mohamed Salah is leaving Liverpool. The Egyptian forward confirmed he will depart Anfield at the end of the 2025/26 season, bringing the curtain down on one of the most extraordinary individual stints in Premier League history.
The news comes through a mutual contract termination, with Salah agreeing to cancel the final year of his deal rather than see it run until 2027. He walks away on a free transfer, and while that might sting Liverpool from a financial standpoint, the club will save around $27 million in wages by parting ways now. For a squad that needs reshaping, that sum matters.
A Fallout That Could Not Be Fixed
The split has been a long time coming. Salah made no secret of his frustration with manager Arne Slot after a difficult start to the season, famously saying after Liverpool's 3-3 draw at Leeds in December that he felt "thrown under the bus" by the club. The relationship between the pair never recovered, and what followed was a growing sense that the 33-year-old's days in red were numbered regardless of contract status.
In a farewell message posted on his social media, Salah described it as the "first part" of his goodbye, hinting that a full announcement of his next destination is coming shortly. Multiple reports suggest he has several strong options, with Saudi Pro League clubs and a possible return to Europe both on the table.
The Numbers That Tell the Story
It is difficult to overstate what Salah has meant to Liverpool. Since arriving from AS Roma in June 2017, he has produced 281 goal contributions at Anfield — 189 goals and 92 assists in the Premier League alone — making him the most productive player for a single club in the competition's history. He is the third highest goalscorer in Liverpool's all-time records, sitting behind only Ian Rush and Gordon Hodgson.
He picked up four Golden Boots during his time at the club, won the Premier League title, the Champions League, the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup. He changed the culture of the club and redefined what a wide forward could do at the top level of the game.
What Happens Next?
Liverpool will now need to move quickly. Losing a player of Salah's output for nothing leaves a gaping hole in their attack, and the club's hierarchy will need to identify a replacement before the summer window closes. Manager Slot has already spoken privately about the need to bring in a wide forward with similar goalscoring instincts.
For Salah, this is the start of a new chapter rather than the end of one. He arrives at wherever he goes next as arguably the greatest player to ever represent the Egyptian national team, and one of the finest the Premier League has ever seen. Wherever he ends up, Anfield will always be where the legend was written.
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