Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has announced his exit from the Premier League club at the end of the season. The 33-year-old Egyptian star confirmed the news on Tuesday in a video message on social media, calling it the "first part" of his farewell. Salah will depart on a free transfer despite having 12 months remaining on his contract.

While he hasn't explicitly stated a reason for his departure, Salah said earlier in the season that his relationship with Liverpool manager Arne Slot was nonexistent. The fan favourite accused the club of making him a scapegoat for the English champions' poor start to the Premier League season and claimed he was "thrown under the bus" after Liverpool's 3-3 draw at Leeds in December. "I don't know why, but it seems to me that someone doesn't want me in the club," Salah had said at Elland Road.

Although speculation about his future has been ongoing, Salah's next destination remains unclear. His agent, Ramy Abbas Issa, said in a post on X: "We do not know where Mohamed will play next season. This also means that no one else knows." Possible destinations include the Saudi Pro League, with clubs like Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal in the mix, as well as Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States.

Liverpool said they respected Salah's wish to announce his departure to his supporters at the earliest "due to his respect and gratitude for them." The club was quick to celebrate "the Egyptian King's" achievements, memorable moments, and remarkable statistics with multiple posts on social media. In a statement, Liverpool noted: "With plenty still left to play for this season, Salah is firmly focused on trying to achieve the best possible finish to the campaign for Liverpool and, therefore, the time to fully celebrate his legacy and achievements will follow later in the year when he bids farewell to Anfield."

Salah will exit Liverpool as one of the most decorated players in Premier League history. Over his nine years at the club, which he joined from AS Roma in June 2017, he has scored 255 goals in 435 appearances to become the third-highest goal scorer for the Reds. His 281 goal contributions (189 goals and 92 assists) are the most for any player at one club in the league's history. He is a three-time PFA Player of the Year winner (2018, 2022, and 2025) and was awarded the FIFA Puskás Award in 2018, along with a record-equalling four Premier League Golden Boot awards. His eight major Anfield titles include two Premier League titles, one Champions League title, and other domestic and international cups.

Source: www.aljazeera.com