Fabrizio Romano on Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool exit: Why now, where next and how Reds will respond

Robin Bairner

Updated: 25 Mar 2026 07:31 GMT
5 min read

Football transfer news expert Fabrizio Romano has given a complete insight into Mohamed Salah’s decision to leave Liverpool.

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FootballTransfers exclusively revealed last summer that Salah was primed to depart Anfield with a year of his contract still to run, and this was confirmed on Tuesday as the forward delivered a farewell letter to Reds fans.

Romano has reported on the reasons behind his decision, his likely destination and the impact it will have on Liverpool’s plans for the summer transfer market.

Current ETV

Mohamed Salah

F, M (R)

Liverpool

Mohamed Salah

F, M (R)

Liverpool

ETV Range

€44.2M - €54M

Mo Salah: Leaving Liverpool the right way

Salah has not had an easy campaign with Liverpool, with a dramatic fallout with manager Arne Slot in the winter, leading to him being frozen out entirely for a brief period. This might have prompted him to leave in January, but he didn’t want to depart via the back door.

Romano explained the reasons for the timing of the decision on his YouTube channel:

“Salah has made up his mind to leave Liverpool at the end of the season.

“Technically, it’s about football - tactical evolution, style changes, relationships - but emotionally, this is about ending it the right way. He didn’t want to walk away mid-season, or during the winter chaos. Now, he can say goodbye properly to the fans.

“And yes, Salah wrote a beautiful farewell letter to the club, his teammates, and supporters - in true ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ spirit. Emotional, classy, and full of gratitude. Because what he did at Liverpool will stay forever: nine trophies, countless records, unforgettable moments.”

Where is Salah moving to?

Romano addressed the question of Salah’s next move. He revealed that the Saudi Pro League seems likely to be his next step but stressed that nothing is decided.

“We know Salah has always had options. Before his last renewal, Premier League clubs made calls. Paris Saint-Germain looked at him too, but talks never became serious,” Romano said.

“And then of course there’s Saudi Arabia. They’ve wanted Salah for a long time. You’ll remember summer 2024, when Saudi clubs tried until the very final hours of the window to sign him – Jurgen Klopp was still there and Liverpool said absolutely no.

“That ambition hasn’t changed. The Saudi Pro League still sees Mo Salah as the marquee name, both for his legacy and for what he represents internationally. They want him not only for football but also marketing - to be one of the faces of their project ahead of future tournaments, including the World Cup in Saudi.

“It’s now up to Salah: whether he wants that move, or to continue in Europe for one more challenge. At the moment, his decision is only to leave Liverpool - the rest will develop soon.”

What this means for Liverpool

Salah’s announcement will shape Liverpool’s plans for the summer, forcing them into the market for a winger.

Romano explained: “Of course, this massively affects Liverpool’s plans - they will go for wingers in the summer.

“With Salah now leaving, that’s 100% confirmed. It could be one, could be two - depending on Champions League qualification and potential finances after heavy investment last summer.

“Expect them to be active, smart, and opportunistic in the market. The scouting department already has targets lined up, and more on those names will come very soon.”

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