Salah to leave Liverpool after nine years

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has announced he will leave the club at the end of the season, bringing an early end to a nine-year spell at Anfield for one of the club’s all-time great scorers.

The 33-year-old Egyptian star, who has scored 255 goals in 435 appearances for Liverpool, agreed to depart a year before his contract was set to expire, the Premier League champions confirmed.

Salah’s ninth season at Anfield has seen a dip in form, leading to periods out of the starting lineup. In December, he publicly criticized the club, saying it “threw me under the bus” after being left on the bench.

“I never imagined how deeply this club, this city, these people would become part of my life,” Salah said in an Instagram post. “Liverpool is not just a football club. It’s a passion, it’s a history, it’s a spirit… Leaving is never easy.”

Liverpool described Salah as “one of the greatest players in Liverpool’s history,” noting his remarkable contribution, including eight titles: two Premier Leagues, a Champions League, and multiple domestic trophies. He ranks third on Liverpool’s all-time scorers’ list, behind Ian Rush and Roger Hunt, and has won the Premier League Golden Boot four times.

Despite signing a two-year contract extension last year, Salah’s relationship with manager Arne Slot became strained this season, which some say affected his legacy. Nevertheless, the club emphasized that he remains focused on finishing the season strongly.

There is no word yet on Salah’s next club. Leaving as a free agent would mean Liverpool will not receive a transfer fee. He had previously attracted interest from Saudi club Al-Ittihad, which was turned down in 2023.

Liverpool will bid farewell to Salah later this year, after the Premier League season concludes against Brentford on May 24 and the Champions League final the following weekend in Budapest.

Teammates have lauded Salah’s professionalism and leadership. Defender Andrew Robertson called him “second to none,” praising his relentless drive on and off the pitch and wishing him a send-off befitting “the greatest.”

Salah is currently sidelined with a muscle injury sustained against Galatasaray in the Champions League last week.

Source: AP/UNB