In the space of a single extraordinary week, Mohamed Salah made Champions League history and then confirmed he would be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season. His 50th goal in Europe’s premier club competition — scored against Galatasaray in a dominant 4-0 win — made him the first African player ever to reach that milestone. Days later, his social media announcement that this season would be his last at Anfield completed one of the most dramatic fortnights in his Liverpool career.
Salah’s nine-year record at Liverpool is defined by landmarks and records. His 255 goals in 435 appearances make him the club’s third-highest scorer in history. His four Premier League Golden Boot awards and three PFA Player of the Year recognitions are evidence of a level of sustained excellence that only the very best in the sport are capable of. He also helped Liverpool win the Champions League, two league championships, the FA Cup, the Club World Cup, and multiple other trophies during a golden era for the club.
The farewell video Salah posted on social media was quiet in its tone but significant in its content. He described Liverpool as more than a club — as a spirit and a history that had embedded itself into his identity during nine years of life on Merseyside. He thanked supporters for their loyalty during the good times and the bad, and he promised to always consider the club his home. His parting reference to the club’s famous anthem was a final act of belonging that moved supporters worldwide.
The season has seen Salah navigate significant turbulence. His public clash with Arne Slot in December — in which he questioned the manager’s communication and implied that the club had used him as a scapegoat — was one of the season’s defining stories. A brief exclusion from the Champions League squad was followed by reintegration and a series of strong performances. The Galatasaray goal, scored in the week before his departure announcement, felt like both a milestone and a farewell gift to the fans.
His agent has confirmed that no deal with a future club has been struck, and the destination for Salah’s next chapter remains genuinely open. Saudi Arabia, which bid £150 million for him in 2023, has strong financial motivation to try again on a free transfer. But Europe’s elite clubs will not step aside easily. Liverpool, for their part, will celebrate his legacy formally at the end of the season — a celebration that promises to be one of the most emotional in Anfield’s long history.