Liverpool Football Club’s list of achievements since Mohamed Salah arrived in 2017 reads like a wishlist that was somehow granted. This week, Salah confirmed that his time at the club is coming to an end, announcing via a personal social media video that he will depart on a free transfer this summer, by mutual agreement, despite 12 months remaining on his £500,000-per-week deal. The task of replacing him will define Liverpool’s rebuilding plans for years.
The trophies won during Salah’s time at Anfield span the full spectrum of what a top European club can aspire to: the Premier League Golden Boot four times, two Premier League titles, the Champions League, the Club World Cup, the UEFA Super Cup, the FA Cup, and two League Cups. He was instrumental in all of it, not merely as a scorer but as a player who changed the way opposing teams prepared for games against Liverpool. His 255 goals in 435 appearances make him the club’s third-highest scorer ever.
His farewell message reflected the quality of his character as much as his football. He spoke of Liverpool as having changed him in ways that were not merely professional but deeply personal — the club, the city, and its people had entered his life and become part of who he is. He thanked supporters and teammates with evident sincerity, and he closed with the words of the club’s famous anthem — a parting declaration of permanent loyalty.
The season’s difficulties — particularly the public dispute with Arne Slot in December, which included Salah’s candid comments about their virtually nonexistent relationship and led to his brief removal from the squad — did not diminish the quality that he continued to show on the pitch. His Champions League goal against Galatasaray, which made him the first African player to score 50 times in the competition, confirmed that his abilities remain at the highest level even in what has been his most turbulent season.
With no future destination confirmed, the football world is in a state of excited anticipation. Clubs from Saudi Arabia, which bid a reported £150 million just two years ago, to the major European leagues will be seeking to attract Salah’s signature this summer. Liverpool will focus on celebrating his legacy formally when the time comes. For now, the club and the player share a few precious weeks of competitive football — possibly the last they will ever share together.