Mohamed Salah has thanked Liverpool for the best time of his life after announcing he will leave the club at the end of the season.
The 33-year-old has reached an agreement with the Premier League champions to depart on a free transfer after this current campaign, bringing down the curtain on an illustrious and record-breaking nine years at Anfield.
Saudi Arabian clubs have long circled for Salah, including Al Ittihad who made a £150million bid in summer 2023, while sides in the United States have previously enquired. Given he will leave for nothing, staying in Europe cannot be ruled out.
Salah, who has scored the third-most goals in Reds history with 255, said: ‘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.’
Salah’s long-serving agent, Ramy Abbas, said in a statement that no one knows where the forward will play next year. He is currently injured and sitting out of Egypt’s upcoming international camp and no advanced talks have taken place yet out of respect for Liverpool.
Mohamed Salah announced that he will be leaving Liverpool in an emotional video on Tuesday
The Egyptian winger is one of the most talented players to have featured in the Premier League
The forward asked Liverpool to make the announcement as early as possible out of respect for the supporters.
It comes four months after a bitter fall-out with boss Arne Slot in which Salah said he had no relationship with the head coach and claimed the club had thrown him ‘under the bus’.
Noting that it is no surprise that Salah will depart this summer – and this announcement comes just shy of a year on from the day he signed a two-year contract extension.
Unless Liverpool get to the final of the FA Cup or Champions League, Salah’s last game for the club is set to be the home clash with Brentford on May 24. He will still give his full focus to the Reds until then, with top-five qualification far from guaranteed.
Salah was the star man as Slot’s side won the Premier League last season, his second English title, but his level has dipped this term with just 10 goals this term compared to a staggering 34 last year.
In his video statement, the Egyptian also said: ‘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, these people would become part of my life.
Salah joined the club from AS Roma in 2017 (pictured that July) and would go on to enjoy a heavily decorated nine-year career
The 33-year-old has won the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award three times
But towards the end of last year, Salah appeared frustrated with his dwindling role in the side
‘Liverpool is not 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.
‘I want to thank everyone who was part of this club throughout my time here, especially the teammates 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’s something I will never forget and something I will take with me always.’
Reds vice-captain Andy Robertson wrote on Instagram: ‘Your mentality is second to none and a lot of people could take note. You have pushed yourself every single day and always demanded more from yourself and others.
‘A pleasure sharing the pitch with you for so long but even more so being able to call you a friend. You deserve a send off that reflects your status at Liverpool FC – the greatest. Second to none.’
Liverpool will be drawing up a list of possible replacements in the coming weeks, with work undoubtedly already started to complete the easier-said-than-done task.
They have sounded out replacements in recent weeks and it could be a summer of change on and off the pitch, with discussions over Salah’s future starting before he went away to the Africa Cup of Nations either side of Christmas.
