The first full season of Arne Slot’s management of Liverpool will be defined, at least partly, by Mohamed Salah’s departure. The Egyptian forward confirmed this week that he will leave the club at the end of the season, agreeing to exit on a free transfer despite 12 months remaining on his contract. The announcement followed a turbulent few months in which Salah publicly challenged his relationship with Slot — and was briefly dropped as a result — before returning to play a central role in the club’s continued European progress.
In nine seasons, Salah delivered everything Liverpool could have asked for and more. His 255 goals made him the club’s third-highest scorer across its entire 134-year history. He won four Golden Boots, three PFA Player of the Year awards, and contributed to a trophy haul that includes the Champions League, two Premier League titles, the Club World Cup, the UEFA Super Cup, the FA Cup, and two League Cups. His contract extension in April 2025 reflected the club’s belief that he still had significant contributions to make.
The farewell he delivered to Liverpool’s supporters was genuine and moving. Salah chose to announce his own departure in his own words, via a video posted on social media, rather than allowing the club to control the narrative through a formal press release. He spoke of the nine years at Liverpool as the best of his life and described the club as a spirit and a passion that defies easy description. His closing reference to the club’s anthem was a perfect, resonant conclusion to his message.
This season’s challenges have been well documented. The December fallout with Slot — in which Salah made unusually frank public comments about their working relationship and accused the club of handling him poorly — was one of the season’s defining controversies. Despite being temporarily dropped for a Champions League fixture, Salah returned and showed his quality. Last week’s Champions League goal against Galatasaray — the 50th of his European career, making him the first African to reach that milestone — was a timely reminder of his enduring class.
For Liverpool, the work of rebuilding around Salah’s absence begins this summer. For the football world, the story now shifts to what he decides next. His agent has confirmed no deal has been reached with any future club. The summer will be defined in part by the race to sign him. But whatever comes next for Mohamed Salah, Liverpool’s obligation is clear: to give him a farewell at Anfield that does justice to everything he gave the club across nine remarkable years.