LIVERPOOL, England — Mohamed Salah announced Tuesday that he will leave Liverpool at the end of the season, bringing an early end to his nine-year tenure at the club.
The 33-year-old Egypt forward scored 255 goals in 435 appearances for Liverpool and agreed to depart a year before his contract was set to expire.
Salah’s exit follows a dip in form this season, including being dropped for a stretch of matches last year, prompting him to publicly criticize the club in an interview. In his farewell message on Instagram, Salah said, “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.”
Since joining from Roma in 2017, Salah became one of Liverpool’s greatest-ever players, winning two Premier League titles, a Champions League, and eight total trophies, forming a legendary front three with Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino under manager Jurgen Klopp. He is third on Liverpool’s all-time scoring list behind Ian Rush and Roger Hunt and has won the Premier League Golden Boot four times.
Liverpool described Salah as “one of the greatest players in Liverpool’s history” and said he wished to provide fans with transparency about his future due to his “respect and gratitude for them.” Fellow Liverpool player Andrew Robertson praised Salah’s work ethic and mentality, calling him “second to none” on Instagram.
There is no word yet on Salah’s next club. Leaving as a free agent would mean Liverpool will not receive a transfer fee. The Egyptian forward is currently sidelined with a muscle injury sustained against Galatasaray in the Champions League.
Liverpool’s final Premier League game is set for May 24 against Brentford, with the Champions League quarterfinals and finals to follow in Budapest. The club said Salah remains focused on helping Liverpool achieve the best possible finish to the season before celebrating his remarkable legacy at Anfield.
