Mohamed Salah, the first player from Africa to score 50 goals in the Champions League, confirmed this week that he will leave Liverpool at the end of the current season. The 33-year-old Egyptian forward made the announcement via a personal video posted on social media, bringing to a close nine extraordinary years at Anfield. The departure, which will take place this summer via a free transfer, was agreed with the club despite 12 months remaining on Salah’s contract.
Salah’s Champions League achievement — scored against Galatasaray in a 4-0 victory just last week — was the latest in a long series of records he has broken at Liverpool. His 255 goals in 435 appearances for the club make him its third-highest scorer in history, behind only Ian Rush and Roger Hunt. He won four Premier League Golden Boot awards and three PFA Player of the Year titles during a career at Anfield that also delivered two league championships, the Champions League, the FA Cup, the Club World Cup, the UEFA Super Cup, and two League Cups.
In his farewell video, Salah offered a deeply personal reflection on nine years at Liverpool. He spoke of the depth of his affection for the club, the city, and the supporters — saying he had never imagined, when he arrived in 2017, that they would become such a fundamental part of his life. His gratitude to the fans for supporting him in both the best and most difficult periods of his career was clearly felt, and his closing words — a direct reference to the club’s beloved anthem — were a moving and appropriate conclusion.
The season has been testing. His public dispute with Arne Slot in December, in which he challenged both the manager’s communication and the club’s handling of a difficult run, generated enormous media coverage and led to him being dropped for a Champions League fixture. He was restored to the squad, performed strongly in subsequent matches, and produced the historic Champions League goal that brought him further global attention. Liverpool’s Champions League and FA Cup runs remain alive, with quarter-finals still to be played.
His agent confirmed that no future club has been decided, offering the football world an open question that will dominate transfer conversations in the months ahead. Saudi Arabia, which offered £150 million for Salah in 2023, is expected to renew interest. European clubs will also be watching. Whatever his decision, Mohamed Salah departs Liverpool as a player of genuine historical significance — not just for the club, but for his country, his continent, and the sport as a whole.