Salah's Anfield Farewell: The Saudi Millions Await, But What About a European Swan Song?
Mohamed Salah's time at Liverpool, it feels like, is winding down. Six years, 209 goals in 340 appearances, a Champions League, a Premier League title – he's a certified legend on Merseyside. The guy arrived in 2017 for a then-club-record £34 million, and he’s delivered far beyond that price tag. But with his contract set to expire in the summer of 2025, and no new deal looking imminent, the whispers are getting louder. Where does a 32-year-old superstar, still capable of 25 goals a season (he hit 25 across all competitions in 2023-24), go next?
The Saudi Arabian Siren Song
Let's be real, the most likely destination is Saudi Arabia. Al-Ittihad came calling hard last summer, reportedly tabling a bid north of £150 million. Liverpool, to their credit, stood firm. But that kind of money doesn't just evaporate. Saudi clubs, backed by the Public Investment Fund, aren't shy about spending. Cristiano Ronaldo's move to Al-Nassr in December 2022, followed by Karim Benzema joining Al-Ittihad last June, opened the floodgates. Think of the marketing potential: Salah, one of the most recognizable Muslim athletes globally, playing in the Kingdom. It’s a match made in commercial heaven.
Financially, it’s a no-brainer for Salah. He could easily command a salary north of £100 million a year, dwarfing his current Liverpool wages. And for Liverpool, getting a significant transfer fee for a player entering the final year of his deal, especially one Salah’s age, would be smart business. They paid £60 million for Dominik Szoboszlai last summer, and that kind of cash could be reinvested. Thing is, Salah still looks like he can play at the highest level in Europe. Moving to the Saudi Pro League, for all its financial allure, feels like an early retirement from top-tier competition. It’s a shame, given he still possesses that explosive burst and deadly left foot that terrorized defenders for years, like when he scored that incredible solo goal against Manchester City in October 2021.
A Surprise European Stint?
Could Salah surprise everyone and opt for another big European challenge? It's a long shot, but not impossible. Barcelona and Real Madrid are always in the market for global superstars, though their financial situations make a massive transfer fee and salary for a 32-year-old tricky. Paris Saint-Germain, with Kylian Mbappé finally gone, has a gaping hole in their attack and a massive wage bill freed up. Imagine Salah linking up with Ousmane Dembélé and Randal Kolo Muani. PSG could definitely afford him, and the French league, while not as competitive as the Premier League, would still offer Champions League football.
Here's the thing: Salah has always been about proving himself. He flopped at Chelsea initially, then rebuilt his career at Roma before becoming a global icon at Anfield. A move to PSG, winning Ligue 1, and making a deep Champions League run would be a nice feather in his cap, proving he can still perform outside the Premier League. But the reality is, very few clubs could match the Saudi offer, even PSG. And after six grueling seasons at Liverpool, playing under Jürgen Klopp’s high-intensity system, a slightly less demanding league might appeal.
The Legacy Question
Look, Salah will leave Liverpool as one of their greatest ever. That’s not up for debate. But where he goes next will color the final chapter of his career. Does he chase the absolute maximum financial reward in Saudi Arabia, cementing his family’s future for generations? Or does he try to squeeze one last elite European campaign out of his aging but still potent legs? My hot take? He’s going to Saudi Arabia. The money is simply too astronomical to turn down for a player in his early thirties. He's earned the right to a massive payday after carrying Liverpool's attack for so long.
I predict Salah will be unveiled by a Saudi Pro League club – likely Al-Ittihad, who still covet him – by late August, pocketing a deal that makes him one of the highest-paid athletes on the planet.