Mohamed Salah to Leave Liverpool in 2026: End of an Era at Anfield
Wed, 25th Mar, 2026
Mohamed Salah to Leave Liverpool in 2026: End of an Era at Anfield
In news that has sent shockwaves through the football world, Mohamed Salah — the Egyptian King, the record-breaker, the man who redefined Liverpool's modern identity has officially confirmed he will leave Anfield at the end of the 2025/26 season. After nine extraordinary years, one of the greatest forwards in Premier League history is departing on a free transfer, leaving behind a legacy that will endure for generations.
The announcement, made on March 24, 2026 via a heartfelt video message on Salah's social media accounts, marks the bittersweet conclusion of a chapter that Liverpool fans hoped would never end. But with the club confirming an agreement to release the 33-year-old a year ahead of schedule, the curtain is now officially falling on a legendary career at Anfield.
The Official Announcement: 'Unfortunately, the Day Has Come'
Salah broke the news himself, speaking directly to fans in a video posted to Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) on March 24, 2026. Standing in front of his vast trophy collection a fitting backdrop he delivered an emotional farewell message that reverberated across football.
"Unfortunately, the day has come," Salah said. "This is the first part of my farewell. I will be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season. I never imagined how deeply this club, this city, these people would become part of my life. Liverpool is not just a football club — it is a passion, a history, a spirit."
Liverpool FC quickly issued their own statement, confirming the mutual agreement and emphasizing that Salah had personally requested the early announcement out of respect and transparency for the club's supporters. The club described his nine-year tenure as "remarkable" and promised a full celebration of his legacy closer to the end of the season.
Why Is Salah Leaving Liverpool Early?
Salah still had one year remaining on the contract he signed in April 2025 the same extension that followed his starring role in Liverpool's record-equaling 20th Premier League title. Yet the 2025/26 season has been a turbulent one for the Egyptian forward, and behind the scenes, cracks had clearly been widening.
The fall-out with Arne Slot
Relations between Salah and head coach Arne Slot deteriorated noticeably during the 2025/26 campaign. The crisis point came in December 2025, when Salah was left as an unused substitute in Liverpool's 3-3 draw at Leeds United. In an explosive post-match interview at Elland Road — seemingly impromptu — Salah told reporters: "I don't know why, but it seems to me that someone doesn't want me in the club." He also claimed the club had made him a scapegoat for their poor start to the Premier League season and that he had been "thrown under the bus."
That public airing of frustration was highly unusual for a player of Salah's stature and signalled that the relationship between player and club had fundamentally broken down. His form also dipped, with Salah registering just 10 goals and 9 assists across all competitions in 2025/26 respectable figures, but a noticeable decline for a player who had set the Premier League alight year after year.
Wages and financial considerations
Reports suggest Salah earned between £350,000 and £400,000 per week, reportedly the highest salary in Liverpool's history. While his departure means no incoming transfer fee, it does represent a significant reduction in the club's wage bill, giving Arne Slot greater financial flexibility to reshape the squad for the seasons ahead.
Nine Years, One Extraordinary Legacy
To appreciate what Salah has meant to Liverpool, and to English football as a whole, the numbers alone tell a staggering story. Signed from AS Roma in the summer of 2017 for a then-club record fee, the 33-year-old leaves Anfield as the club's third-highest scorer of all time, having netted 255 goals in 435 appearances.
Trophies won with Liverpool:
• Premier League (2019/20, 2024/25)
• UEFA Champions League (2019)
• FIFA Club World Cup (2019)
• UEFA Super Cup (2019)
• FA Cup (2022)
• League Cup (2022, 2024)
• FA Community Shield (2022)
Individual highlights:
• Four-time Premier League Golden Boot winner
• 255 goals — third in Liverpool's all-time scoring charts
• Puskás Award winner
• Consistently among the world's top-rated forwards throughout his Anfield career
Former teammate Andy Robertson, who arrived at Liverpool in the same summer as Salah in 2017, paid tribute: "Watching you become the best at what you do and become one of the best to ever have worn the Liverpool shirt has been a joy to watch and be part of."
Where Will Salah Go Next?
As of the announcement, Salah has not disclosed his next destination. Leaving as a free agent, he will be free to negotiate and sign a pre-contract agreement with any club immediately, and his profile, even at 33, ensures he will have no shortage of suitors.
Saudi Pro League
Saudi Arabia remains the most discussed destination. Salah was previously the subject of a reported bid from Al-Ittihad in 2023, which Liverpool rejected. With the Saudi Pro League's continued financial muscle and ambition, a lucrative move to the Middle East remains a very real possibility. Given his age and the financial security it would offer, many pundits believe this is the most likely destination.
A return to Europe?
While a return to a top European club seems less probable at this stage of his career, it cannot be entirely ruled out. Barcelona, Inter Miami (MLS), and even a sentimental return to Egyptian club Al Ahly have been speculated upon, though no credible reports have emerged as yet. Transfer experts Fabrizio Romano and Ben Jacobs have indicated that Salah will take his time deciding his next move.
What Remains for Salah This Season
Despite the bittersweet announcement, there is still plenty of football to be played — and potentially more history to be written. Liverpool face a minimum of 10 more fixtures this season, including:
• Seven remaining Premier League matches (as Liverpool fight for Champions League qualification)
• An FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester City
• A Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain
Note: Salah is currently sidelined with a muscle injury suffered in the Champions League match against Galatasaray, though Liverpool expect him back before the season's end.
Liverpool's final Premier League game is scheduled for May 24, 2026 against Brentford at Anfield a date that could serve as an emotional farewell for the Egyptian King on home soil.
The Impact on Liverpool: A Huge Void to Fill
No one at Anfield will pretend that replacing Mohamed Salah is anything other than a monumental challenge. For nearly a decade, he has been Liverpool's talisman — their most reliable goal threat, their match-winner, their global superstar. His departure will reshape the club's attacking identity, and Arne Slot will need to act decisively in the summer transfer window to find a worthy successor.
On the financial side, the elimination of his estimated £350,000–£400,000 per week wages gives the club significant room to invest. Expect Liverpool to be among the most active clubs in the summer of 2026 as they seek to transition to a new era, one built on the foundations that Salah helped lay.
A Farewell Worthy of a King
In football, very few players genuinely alter the fabric of a club. Mohamed Salah did exactly that. He arrived at Liverpool in 2017 as a promising winger looking to rebuild his reputation after an underwhelming spell at Chelsea. He leaves in 2026 as one of the greatest players to have ever donned the famous red shirt, a global icon, a four-time Golden Boot winner, a Champions League champion.
However his final weeks at Anfield unfold, and wherever his next chapter takes him, one truth will never change: Mohamed Salah gave Liverpool everything. And as he so beautifully put it himself:
"You gave me the best time of my life. I will always be one of you. This club will always be my home. Thank you for everything — and because of you, I will never walk alone."