It's official... Mohamed Salah will leave Liverpool when this season comes to an end. The news was revealed in an emotional announcement video released by the Egyptian this evening (March 24).
This was quickly followed by an official statement from Liverpool, who urged fans to celebrate the Egyptian's achievements and his legacy. It was a poignant video which also featured many of his best moments, as well as a touching tribute to the late Diogo Jota.
Now Salah has announced he will depart when the current season ends, the Liverpool Echo guides you through all of the reactions, while also discussing the potential moves he could make next.
Jamie Carragher believes the timing of Mohamed Salah's exit announcement is "perfect and clever" after the Liverpool forward announced he will leave the club at the end of the season.
Carragher said in his Telegraph column: "The timing of Tuesday's announcement strikes me as both perfect and clever. There will, inevitably, be retrospective suggestions that the decision is a year too late, and that it would have been better for all parties had he sought his farewell when the club won the Premier League trophy last May.
"As a soon-to-be ex-Liverpool player, he will soon come to view the place where he made his name – as I do – as part of his extended family. He will understand my point of view if or when anyone criticises Liverpool in the future. And he will also understand that while it is always sad when a great player leaves, no one is irreplaceable. Another Anfield hero always emerges.
"Confirming his intentions now guarantees the kind of emotional, grand farewell that a player of his standing deserves, which is why it was so critically important that neither he nor the club entertained any offers for him in the January window."
Jamie Carragher has delivered his first verdict on Mohamed Salah's departure from Liverpool and said his exit is going to be a loss for English football.
"Mohamed Salah’s imminent Liverpool departure marks not just the end of an extraordinary era for the club. It means the Premier League will soon be deprived of another world-class, generational talent," Carragher said in his Telegraph column.
"Liverpool’s loss is English football’s loss.
"Following Kevin De Bruyne’s exit from Manchester City just last season, Salah’s Anfield farewell brings down the curtain on another career in this country which has illuminated our stadiums.
"Until others step up to fill the huge void, we may risk suffering a 'superstar famine'.
"In the pantheon of overseas attacking players to have excelled in England, only Thierry Henry eclipses Salah’s output and consistency. While many will argue the merits of players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Eden Hazard, Gianfranco Zola, Dennis Bergkamp or Eric Cantona, none of them produced the same devastating numbers as consistently, season-after-season, as the Egyptian."
Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez have paid tribute to Mohamed Salah after the Liverpool forward announced that he will leave the club at the end of the season.
Salah, 33, has been at Anfield since his £37million move from Roma in 2017 and has since established himself as one of Liverpool's greatest ever players. Indeed, the Egypt international is the club's third highest goalscorer having found the net 255 times in 435 appearances.
But Salah has reached an agreement with the Reds to cancel his contract and become a free transfer in the summer, bringing an end to an illustrious nine-year period on Merseyside.
Reacting to Salah's announcement on social media, Diaz and Nunez - who played with Salah for three full seasons before both left the club last summer - have sent supportive messages to the departing Liverpool man.
Indeed, Nunez posted a red love heart and king emoji, while Diaz put a red love heart and raised hands emoji in the comments section to Salah's post.
Read the full story here.
Ian Rush - 360 goals, 660 games
Roger Hunt - 285 goals, 492 games
Mohamed Salah - 255 goals, 435 games
Gordon Hodgson - 241 goals, 377 games
Billy Liddell - 228 goals, 534 games
When they were both in the Premier League, Chelsea and Liverpool supporters often pitted Eden Hazard and Mohamed Salah against each other. However, when he was asked who was better out of the pair of them, Hazard only had one answer - it was the Egyptian King.
Hazard told Sport Bible: "Mo Salah, by far. He was good already, you know, but that good? We played when he was playing in Basel.
"So we played Champions League the year before and then we were like, ‘Wow’. And then we bought him like, 'Yeah, we have to. We have to buy this guy because this guy is so good’.
"And then, you know, in football you have ups and downs and then what he did with Liverpool is like, ‘Wow’.”
Here is the number of goal contributions Mohamed Salah made against Premier League sides:
Newcastle United - 20 goal contributions
Manchester United - 19 goal contributions
Brighton and Hove Albion and West Ham United - 17 goal contributions
Tottenham Hotspur - 16 goal contributions
Manchester City, Bournemouth, Southampton - 15 goal contributions
Aston Villa and Crystal Palace - 14 goal contributions
Arsenal and Wolverhampton Wanderers - 12 goal contributions
Everton, Watford - 11 goal contributions
Leeds United - 10 goal contributions
Chelsea - nine goal contributions
Brentford and Leicester City - eight goal contributions
Fulham and Huddersfield - six goal contributions
Burnley - four goal contributions
Cardiff City, Ipswich Town - three goal contributions
Nottingham Forest, Stoke City, Swansea City, West Brom - two goal contributions
Sheffield United and Sunderland - one goal contribution
Gary Lineker has paid tribute to Mohamed Salah in his own social media post for the out-going Liverpool forward.
The ex-England international and former Match of the Day forward said: "Nine years at Liverpool and what a nine years it has been. He's been a phenomenon.
"He's an unbelievably brilliant footballer, he's won two league titles, the Champions League, two League Cups, the FA Cup, the Super Cup and, of course, the Club World Cup.
"He scored so many goals. He's been so consistent for such a long period of time. I'd just like to say 'Thank you Mo' for everything that you've done for English football, particularly the Premier League, and of course, for Liverpool.
"You've been a credit to our sport and it's been great having you here and we wish you all the very best for the future, wherever that may be."
As Mohamed Salah fired the goals in at Liverpool, hate crimes in the city dropped at speed. After arriving from Roma in 2017, Salah quickly entrenched himself as one of the club's most important players.
He led Liverpool's front-line when they reached the 2018 Champions League final, scored the winner in the 2019 event, spearheaded the Reds to the Premier League in 2020 and inspired fans and players to dream big.
But his most important contribution may have been away from the pitch. Salah used to mark every goal by dropping to his knees and touching the ground with his forehead, an Islamic prayer position called the sujood. Liverpool fans also used to sing: "If he scores another few, then I’ll be Muslim, too."
Stanford University carried out research that stated hate crimes around Liverpool dropped from the moment he arrived at Anfield. Police reports around England, including the Merseyside area, also stated hate crimes dropped by 18.9% after Salah joined the club.
It was also found that after sifting through 15 million tweets by UK football fans, the researchers found Liverpool supporters had halved the number of anti-Muslim tweets they were posting.
It goes to show Salah's impact at Liverpool stretched way beyond the parameters of the football pitch.
Like many, Steven Gerrard may have been stunned by Mohamed Salah's announcement he is leaving Liverpool. The news, which was dropped suddenly this evening on Salah's social channels, came seemingly from nowhere.
Many Liverpool players have filed their tributes to the Egyptian King, who will depart as the club's highest ever Premier League goal-scorer. Gerrard reposted Salah's announcement video on his social media change.
There was no caption nor comment, just a quiet repost, which may suggest he is lost for words by the news.
Mohamed Salah's most emotional moment at Liverpool may have come at the start of this season. On August 15, Salah and his team-mates began the new Premier League campaign with a touching tribute to Diogo Jota.
It was the Reds' first Premier League match since Jota and his brother Andre Silva were both killed in a tragic car accident in Spain. As raptuous applause filled Anfield, tears could be seen running down Salah's face.
TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS EMOTIONAL DAY, READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Alexander Isak became the latest Liverpool player to react to Mohamed Salah's exit announcement. The £125million Reds record signing offered a short, but effective, tribute.
He commented a love heart emoji beneath Salah's Instagram post. A whole host of Liverpool players have paid tribute, despite the fact most of them will be with their clubs for the international break.
Of course, this is depending on Liverpool's progress in the Champions League and the FA Cup. However, as of now, these are Salah's final matches with the club:
April 4 - FA Cup quarter-final - Man City (A)
April 8 - Champions League quarter-final first-leg - Paris Saint-Germain (A)
April 11 - Premier League - Fulham (H)
April 14 - Champions League quarter-final second-leg - Paris Saint-Germain (H)
April 19 - Premier League - Everton (A)
April 25 - Premier League - Crystal Palace (H)
May 2 - Premier League - Manchester United (A)
May 9 - Premier League - Chelsea (H)
May 17 - Premier League - Aston Villa (A)
May 24 - Premier League - Brentford (H)
Things have not always gone smoothly for Mohamed Salah at Liverpool. His contract negotiations were often drawn out and tense.
There were run-ins with former attacking team-mate Sadio Mane and even Jurgen Klopp himself, with the latter coming together pitchside at the London Stadium during a clash against West Ham. However, the most jaw-dropping moment came at Elland Road last winter, when Salah unleashed a huge tirade hitting out at Arne Slot after Liverpool's 3-3 away draw with Leeds,
He said: "I could not help my team-mates because I am on the bench. I could not believe I was sitting on the bench for 90 minutes. That’s the third time.
"It’s the first time in my career I think. I am very disappointed, I have done so much for this club over years, especially last season, it seems like the club has thrown me under the bus.
"That’s how I feel it. Someone wants me to get all the blame. The club promised me a lot in summer. Now I’m on bench, so I can say they haven’t kept those promises.
"I used to have a good relationship (with Slot). Now we don’t have any relationship and I don't know why. (It) seems like someone does not want me in the club. I called my mum and dad and told them to come to the Brighton game.
"It doesn't matter if I play or not. I'm going to enjoy it. I am just going to be at Anfield and say goodbye to the fans before the African Cup of Nations, because I don’t know what is going to happen when I am there.
"It’s not acceptable to me to be fair. If I was somewhere else,every club would protect its players. Now it’s: ‘Throw Mo under the bus because he is a problem in a team'.
"I don’t think I am a problem. I am not fighting for my position every day because I have earned it. I am not bigger than the club. I am not bigger than anything. But I have earned it."
Former Tottenham and Aston Villa manager Tom Sherwood has hailed Mohamed Salah for his magnificent contributions to Liverpool. Speaking on Sky Sports, Sherwood said: "I’m not surprised really.
"They kept him for an extra season after he returned magnificent numbers last year. They were under pressure to keep him and I thought it was inevitable that he would leave at the end of the season.
"[What a] wonderful player. It’s been magnificent to be able to talk about him and watch him in the Premier League over the years. One of the best foreign imports we’ve ever seen in the Premier League. A magnificent player.”
Liverpool are still in the Champions League and the FA Cup so it's currently tricky to ascertain when Mohamed Salah's final match will be.
However, even if Liverpool reach the final of both, Salah's final match at Anfield will be on May 24, when the Reds host Brentford.
This date will also be the final match of the campaign for Arne Slot's side. Similarly to Jurgen Klopp's final match, expect there to be many tributes paid to the Egyptian King.
There may also be plenty of emotions going around the stadium
PFA Footballer of the Year x3
Premier League Golden Boot x4
Premier League Player of the Year x1
With Liverpool still in with a chance of winning the FA Cup and the Champions League, could he win even more?
Below are Mohamed Salah's jaw-dropping Premier League statistics for Liverpool:
2017-18 - 32 goals, 11 assists, 36 appearances
2018-19 - 22 goals, eight assists, 38 appearances
2019-20 - 19 goals, 10 assists, 34 appearances
2020-21 - 22 goals, five assists, 37 appearances
2021-22 - 23 goals, 13 assists, 35 appearances
2022-23 - 19 goals, 12 assists, 38 appearances
2023-24 - 18 goals, 10 assists, 32 appearances
2024-25 - 29 goals, 18 assists, 38 appearances
2025-26 - five goals, six assists, 22 appearances - and counting
pic.twitter.com/mSP9S4pfpu
In the video announcing his exit from Liverpool, Mohamed Salah paid tribute to the late Diogo Jota. Salah was close friends with Jota, who was tragically killed along with his brother Andre Silva in a car crash near Zamora, Spain.
He referred to the tragedy when he said: "Liverpool, it's not a just a football club. It's a passion. It's a history. It's a spirit. I can't explain in words to anyone not part of this club.
"We celebrated victory. We won the most important trophies. And we fought together through the hardest time in our life."
After he said the final line, the video cut to Salah and his team-mates in the centre-circle of Anfield holding a minute's silence in Jota's memory.
Mohamed Salah will head for Saudi Arabia once he leaves Liverpool, according to the boomakers.
Betfair spokesperson, James Mackie said: “Liverpool’s Egyptian superstar Mohamed Salah is set to leave the club at the end of the season as he and the club announced his shock departure on Tuesday evening.
"The current front runners for his next club currently stand with any Saudi Pro League club at 13/10, followed by a potential switch to the USA to join any MLS club at 15/8.
“Other interesting potential avenues for Liverpool’s third ever highest scorer could see him return to Roma at 15/2 from where he joined Liverpool, or a trip to France to join the current Champions League holders PSG at 17/2.”
Mohamed Salah to sign for before 31st August 2026
Any Saudi Pro League team 13/10
Liverpool will allow Mohamed Salah to leave on a free transfer, despite the fact his deal does not expire until 2027. Last summer, Salah signed a new contract extension which does not expire until June 30 2027.
This would enable Liverpool to extract a transfer fee from the forward. But after recognising the seismic contributions Salah has made to the club throughout his nine years, they will allow him to leave for nothing.
It's a mutual agreement which would give Salah the right to depart the club on a free transfer, a freedom usually given to players whose contract has expired.
Mohamed Salah's agent Ramy Abbas has made it clear no decision about the Liverpool star's next move has been made. Salah announced he will be departing Anfield at the end of the season.
However, when it comes to his next move, Abbas made it clear this has certainly not been decided. He said: “We do not know where Mohamed will play next season. This also means that no one else knows.”
Abbas has played a key and vocal role in Salah's career, particularly when it came to the often tense contract negotiations between player and club.
There will surely be no shortage of takers for Mohamed Salah when he departs Liverpool. He has previously been linked with lucrative moves to Saudi Arabia, with Pro League side Al Ittihad previously seeing a $200m bid be turned down.
Salah is a huge player in the Arab world and it would be a huge boost to the Saudi Pro League if they signed him. Moreover, as a muslim man, he would also be closer to Mecca, which is located in Saudi Arabia.
Moreover, if Salah has ambitions to still compete in Europe, Italy may also be an attractive destination. After his difficult spell at Chelsea, Salah jump-started his career at Fiorentina and then Roma.
With Roma on the verge of qualifying for the Champions League, an emotional return to the Stadio Olimpico may entice him.
And of course, the MLS may also be an option. David Beckham's franchise Inter Miami has a track record of signing top stars having already convinced Sergio Busquets, Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and, of course, Lionel Messi to join him in Florida.
Andrew Robertson commented: "The greatest" beneath Mohamed Salah's video on his X page. Dominik Szoboszlai left a love heart emoji before the post.
Captain Virgil van Djik has put a red heart and a clapping emoji, while Ryan Gravenberch wrote "legend" with a red love heart emoji.
Moreover, Salah's former team-mates Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jordan Henderson also reacted to the news. Alexander-Arnold commented a love heart emoji beneath the Instagram post and Henderson commented a king emoji and a red heart.
In a statement uploaded to the club's website, a spokesperson from Liverpool wrote: 'Mohamed Salah is to bring the curtain down on his illustrious career with Liverpool FC at the end of the 2025-26 season.
'The forward has reached an agreement with the Reds that will see him close a remarkable nine-year chapter at Anfield.
'Salah expressed his wish to make this announcement to the supporters at the earliest possible opportunity to provide transparency about his future due to his respect and gratitude for them.
'Signed from AS Roma in the summer of 2017, the No.11 has firmly established himself as one of the greatest players in Liverpool’s history, helping the club to two Premier League titles, the Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup, FA Cup and two League Cups, as well as an FA Community Shield.
'His tally of 255 goals in 435 appearances to date has the Egyptian sitting third on the Reds’ all-time leading goalscorers chart, winning the Premier League Golden Boot on four occasions in addition to a host of personal accolades.
'With plenty still left to play for this season, Salah is firmly focused on trying to achieve the best possible finish to the campaign for Liverpool and, therefore, the time to fully celebrate his legacy and achievements will follow later in the year when he bids farewell to Anfield.'
"Hello everyone, unfortunately the day has come. This is the first part of my farewell. I will be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season.
"I wanted to start by saying that I never imagined how deeply this club, this city, this people would become part of my life. Liverpool is not just a football club, it's a passion it's a history. It's a spirit. I can't explain the words to anyone not part of this club."
"We celebrated victory, we won the most important trophies and we fought together through the hardest time in our life. I want to thank everyone who was part of this club throughout my time here, especially the team-mates past and present.
"And to the fans: I don't have enough words, the support you showed me through the best time of my career and you stood by me in the toughest times.
"It is something I will never forget and something I will take with me always. Leaving is never easy. You gave me the best time of my life. I will always be one of you. This club will always be my home to me and to my family. Thank you for everything, because of all of you I will never walk alone."
