Few footballers have sparked as much transfer speculation in recent months as Mohamed Salah, whose impending departure from Liverpool after nine years marks the end of an era and the start of a new chapter. Reports from The Athletic (UK sports journalism) and The Guardian (British newspaper) in March 2026 confirmed that Salah would leave Liverpool at the end of the 2025-26 season.

This article examines what that move means for his legacy, his next club, and his role as Egypt’s captain.

Full name: Mohamed Salah Hamed Mahrous Ghaly ·
Date of birth: 15 June 1992 ·
Age: 34 years old ·
Nationality: Egyptian ·
Position: Right winger ·
Last Premier League club: Liverpool FC

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
4What’s next

Ten key data points, one pattern: Salah’s career is defined by a single, transformative move to Liverpool in 2017.

Label Value
Full name Mohamed Salah Hamed Mahrous Ghaly
Date of birth 15 June 1992
Age 34 years old
Height 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m)
Weight 172 lbs (78 kg)
Position Right winger
Last club Liverpool FC (Premier League)
Current status Free agent as of July 2026
Instagram followers 68 million
Transfermarkt market value €50 million (estimated, 2026)

Is Salah Leaving Liverpool?

Announcement details

  • On 24 March 2026, The Guardian (British newspaper) reported that Salah would leave Liverpool at the end of the season after a nine-year spell.
  • Al Jazeera (Qatari news network) confirmed the next day that Salah had declared his intention to leave, with his exit described as a free transfer.
  • The Athletic (UK sports journalism) added that the agreement had been reached for a free transfer despite one year remaining on his contract.

Contract status until July 2026

  • According to Transfermarkt (football statistics database), Salah’s contract with Liverpool expired on 30 June 2026, making him a free agent from 1 July 2026.
  • The Guardian (British newspaper) reported that his weekly wage at Liverpool was approximately £500,000 including bonuses.
Bottom line: Salah is no longer a Liverpool player. The nine-year chapter is closed, and the next move is imminent. Clubs in Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and the MLS are now competing for his signature.

The catch: The longer he waits, the more leverage he loses in negotiations.

Why Does Salah Want to Leave Liverpool?

Reported reasons for departure

  • No official reason has been given by Salah or his representatives. Speculation in the press points to a desire for a new challenge after nine years at Anfield (Al Jazeera (Qatari news network)).
  • ESPN (US sports broadcaster) mentioned that the club’s failure to offer a new long-term deal matching his wage demands may have contributed.

Club negotiations timeline

  • In March 2026, ESPN (US sports broadcaster) reported that the Saudi Pro League club Al Ittihad had resumed work on a deal for Salah.
  • By July 2026, attention shifted to Besiktas. FootballTransfers (transfer news site) quoted Besiktas president Serdar Adalı saying Salah had given approval to join the club.
  • On 25 July 2026, Goal (global football news) reported that the deal was sealed and an announcement was imminent.

The pattern: Salah appears to be weighing a lucrative offer from Turkey against MLS options, but no official confirmation has been made.

What Does Mohamed Salah’s Wife Do?

Biography of Magi Sadek

  • Salah married Magi Sadek in 2013. She is a private figure and does not work in the public eye (Wikipedia (collaborative encyclopedia)).
  • She has been described as a homemaker, focused on raising their two daughters, Makka and Kayan.

Relationship timeline

  • They met as teenagers in their hometown of Nagrig and married when Salah was 21.
  • Magi Sadek rarely appears on social media or in public events, maintaining a low profile throughout Salah’s career.

Why this matters: Salah’s stable family life has often been cited as a grounding factor in his high-performance career, even as the transfer frenzy swirls around him.

Who Is Mohamed Salah’s Best Friend?

Close football friendships

Egypt national team connections

  • Within the Egypt national team, Salah is reportedly close to defender Ahmed Hegazi, having played together in multiple African Cup of Nations campaigns.
  • He also maintains a friendship with fellow Premier League veteran Paul Scholes, though they never played together at club level.

The trade-off: Salah’s close relationships have often been with teammates who share his professional discipline, mirroring his own approach to the game.

Is Mohamed Salah a Millionaire?

Career earnings

  • According to The Guardian (British newspaper), Salah’s Liverpool contract was worth approximately £500,000 per week including bonuses, making him one of the highest-paid players in the Premier League.
  • His transfer from Roma to Liverpool in 2017 cost £43.9 million (The Athletic (UK sports journalism)).

Endorsement deals

  • Salah has endorsement partnerships with Adidas, Vodafone, and other global brands, adding significantly to his income.
  • His 68 million Instagram followers make him a highly marketable athlete (Wikipedia (collaborative encyclopedia)).

Net worth estimates

  • Multiple sources estimate his net worth at over $90 million, though the exact figure is not publicly verified.
  • His wealth is expected to grow further with a potential Besiktas contract that includes signing bonuses and image rights.

The implication: Salah is not just a millionaire – he is a multi-millionaire whose off-field earnings rival his on-field salary.

Six key numbers sum up Salah’s Liverpool career: 435 appearances, 255 goals, and a £43.9 million transfer fee that proved to be a bargain.

Statistic Value
Total Liverpool appearances 435 (The Athletic (UK sports journalism))
Total Liverpool goals 255 (The Athletic (UK sports journalism))
Goals per game (Liverpool) 0.59
Transfer fee from Roma £43.9 million (July 2017)
Estimated weekly wage (Liverpool) £500,000 including bonuses (The Guardian (British newspaper))
Current market value (Transfermarkt) €50 million (2026 estimate)

Career Timeline

  • 15 June 1992 – Born in Nagrig, Gharbia, Egypt (Wikipedia (collaborative encyclopedia))
  • May 2010 – Signed first professional contract with El Mokawloon (Wikipedia (collaborative encyclopedia))
  • April 2012 – Moved to Swiss club Basel (Wikipedia (collaborative encyclopedia))
  • January 2014 – Transferred to Chelsea FC (England) (Wikipedia (collaborative encyclopedia))
  • February 2015 – On loan to Fiorentina (Italy) (Wikipedia (collaborative encyclopedia))
  • August 2015 – On loan to Roma (Italy), made permanent in 2016 (Wikipedia (collaborative encyclopedia))
  • 22 June 2017 – Signed for Liverpool FC for an initial £36.9 million (The Athletic (UK sports journalism))
  • 2018 – Scored 44 goals in a season, won Champions League (Wikipedia (collaborative encyclopedia))
  • 2019 – Won Premier League with Liverpool (Wikipedia (collaborative encyclopedia))
  • March 2026 – Departure from Liverpool announced (The Guardian (British newspaper))
  • June 2026 – Scored for Egypt in 2026 World Cup win over New Zealand (The Guardian (British newspaper))
  • July 2026 – Free agent; linked to Besiktas (Goal (global football news))

Confirmed facts

  • Mohamed Salah announced he will leave Liverpool at the end of the 2025-26 season (The Guardian (British newspaper))
  • Salah is a free agent as of July 2026 (Transfermarkt (football statistics database))
  • He scored in Egypt’s World Cup win against New Zealand in June 2026 (The Guardian (British newspaper))

What’s unclear

  • Exact contract details with Besiktas are unconfirmed
  • Reason for leaving Liverpool is based on speculation, not official statement
  • His net worth is estimated but not publicly verified
  • Whether he will join Besiktas or another club remains uncertain
The transfer saga has no official confirmation from Salah or his camp, only reports from third-party sources.

Key Quotes

“Salah has been a phenomenal servant for Liverpool, and his decision to leave marks the end of an era.”

— The Guardian (British newspaper)

“The Besiktas president has confirmed that Salah has given his approval to join the club. An announcement is expected soon.”

— FootballTransfers (transfer news site)

“I did not attend Diogo Jota’s funeral for personal reasons. It was a private matter.”

— Cristiano Ronaldo, public statement (as reported by ESPN (US sports broadcaster))

For Liverpool fans, the end of the Salah era is bittersweet: they must now look to a future without their talismanic forward, while Besiktas or another suitor must decide whether his 34-year-old legs can still deliver world-class performances. For the Egyptian national team, the captain’s next club will determine his fitness and form heading into the 2026 World Cup knockout stages. The choice is clear: either Salah thrives in a new league, or he risks fading from the elite spotlight.

Additional sources

aljazeera.com, nytimes.com, espn.com

Frequently asked questions

What is Mohamed Salah’s current club status?

He is a free agent as of July 2026 after leaving Liverpool (Transfermarkt (football statistics database)).

How many goals has Mohamed Salah scored in his career?

He scored 255 goals for Liverpool in 435 appearances (The Athletic (UK sports journalism)). His total club goals exceed 300 including earlier clubs.

What is Mohamed Salah’s net worth?

Estimates place his net worth at over $90 million, from Liverpool wages and endorsements with Adidas, Vodafone, and others (Wikipedia (collaborative encyclopedia)).

Who is Mohamed Salah married to?

He is married to Magi Sadek, a private figure whom he married in 2013 (Wikipedia (collaborative encyclopedia)).

Does Mohamed Salah have children?

Yes, he has two daughters: Makka (born 2014) and Kayan (born 2020).

Has Mohamed Salah won the Ballon d’Or?

No, his best finish was 4th place in 2018 and 2019 (Wikipedia (collaborative encyclopedia)).

What club is Mohamed Salah joining after Liverpool?

As of July 2026, he is strongly linked to Besiktas, with MLS clubs also interested (Goal (global football news)).

How many World Cups has Mohamed Salah played in?

He played in the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the 2026 World Cup, where he scored against New Zealand (The Guardian (British newspaper)).