SOCCER: Superstar Forward Mohamed Salah leaving Liverpool at season's end

Liverpool superstar forward Mohamed Salah announced on Tuesday that he will leave the Premier League club at the end of the season, ending a nine-year spell as one of its greatest players.

The club confirmed the news, stating that it had agreed to forgo the final year of the two-year extension Salah signed at the end of the 2025 season.

“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,” Liverpool said in a statement.

The 33-year-old, nicknamed the "Egyptian King," joined Liverpool in 2017. During his time at the club, Salah scored 255 goals in 435 appearances, ranking third in club history. His 281 combined goal contributions (189 goals, 92 assists) in 310 Premier League appearances are the most in league history. Including his two goals for Chelsea in the 2013-14 season, his 191 Premier League career goals rank fourth all-time.

In a heartfelt message posted on X, Salah said:

“I never imagined how deeply this club, this city, these 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 that I can't explain in words to anyone not of this club.”

Salah played a key role in Liverpool’s successes over the past nine years, including Premier League titles in 2019-20 (their first top-flight crown in 30 years) and 2024-25, as well as the FA Cup (2022), League Cup (2022-24), and UEFA Champions League (2019).

“We celebrated victory, we won the most important trophies, and we fought together through the hardest times in our lives,” Salah added. “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.”

Salah alluded to challenging moments during his time at the club, including a period in December when manager Arne Slot left him out of three consecutive matches. At the time, Salah said he felt “thrown under the bus” for the team’s poor results, questioned his relationship with Slot, and expressed uncertainty about his future. He later returned as a regular starter and has contributed 10 goals and nine assists in 34 appearances this season.

“Leaving is never easy,” Salah said. “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 my family. Thank you for everything. Because of all of you, I will never walk alone.”

Last May, Salah scored a league-best 29 goals, winning the Premier League Golden Boot for the fourth time in his career, equaling Thierry Henry’s record. He also claimed the Premier League Playmaker of the Season award, leading with 18 assists, and recorded 47 combined goals and assists—the most ever in a 38-game season.

Salah became the first player to win the Golden Boot, Playmaker, and Player of the Season awards in a single campaign. He previously won the Golden Boot in 2017-18, 2018-19, and 2021-22.

-Field Level Media/Reuters