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Analysis
- 36 minutes ago
Mohamed Salah to Saudi Arabia: The state of play as big problem emerges
Tom Weber
- Updated: 26 Mar 2026 08:57 GMT
- 5 min read
News
Numerous Saudi clubs are interested in Liverpool legend Mohamed Salah, but a deal may not be as straightforward as anticipated.
The "Egyptian King" announced on Tuesday that he would bring his nine-year affiliation with the Reds to an end after the conclusion of the season. Though Salah signed an extension until 2027 last year, he agreed to a contract termination with the club for the summer.
One of the greatest players in Liverpool's history, the club acknowledged that Salah has earned the right to go out on his own terms, even if it means foregoing a potentially sizeable transfer fee.
Current ETV
Mohamed Salah
F, M (R)
Liverpool
Mohamed Salah
F, M (R)
Liverpool
ETV Range
€44.2M - €54M
Speculation surrounding Salah's future has been rampant for some time. Due to a spat with Liverpool boss Arne Slot in December, it was already thought in January that the 33-year-old could jump ship mid-season.
While this ultimately didn't happen, it did put suitors on red alert as it signalled that a premature exit could be possible this summer. A move to Saudi Arabia is widely expected to be the most realistic scenario for the attacker.
Salah to Saudi: It's complicated now
However, Salah has not yet made a decision on his next club. His agent Ramy Abbas took to social media shortly after the Liverpool star's announcement to warn against believing "click-wh*ring attention-seekers" who claim to know where the Egyptian will end up this summer.
Besides Saudi clubs, the veteran forward is expected to field interest from Major League Soccer and European clubs. Saudi suitors, though, have been chasing Salah for three years already.
In 2023, Al-Ittihad offered more than €150 million to make Salah the face of the Saudi Pro League, alongside Al-Nassr star Cristiano Ronaldo. This offer was rejected by Liverpool in what eventually proved to be a shrewd decision as he led them to the Premier League title last season.
The interest from Pro League clubs remains, but Saudi insider Ben Jacobs claims that the situation isn't quite as clear-cut as it used to be. The Pro League has tried to move away from spending fortunes on ageing players and instead wants to attract younger stars in its bid to become an elite division in world football.
Even though Salah won't command a transfer fee, the financial package to sign him would still be enormous this summer. Back in the winter, Jacobs asserted that the Egyptian could make as much as €200m per season in the Pro League.
Naturally, such a massive undertaking can't be financed by most clubs, not even by Saudi sides. Most Pro League clubs would need central funding or secure private investment for a deal, similar to Al-Hilal when they signed Karim Benzema in January.
The Pro League has yet to allocate its budgets for the new season, which is preventing clubs from making any early moves for Salah. Saudi leadership has been adamant that budgets are distributed fairly and that clubs will need to work within the provided financial framework or get backing from other sources.
The journalist adds that senior Saudi figures insist that any deal for Salah will only be sanctioned if there is a return on investment. This could make a move tricky. Signing him would be a huge marketing boon, but would it be enough to offset the hefty cost?
Jacobs notes, though, that Al-Qadsiah are an exception to all of this, as they are backed by Aramco and are not reliant on central funding for their transfer business. They were interested in Salah in January and could feasibly sign him.
From Salah's point of view, the political situation in the region will surely also factor into his decision of whether or not to make the move to the Pro League.
If the war in Iran continues to escalate - the Saudi crown prince is backing the US-Israeli aggressors - it may make the Pro League an unattractive destination for Salah and his young family.
Salah has also been an outspoken supporter of the Palestinian cause, so he may be reluctant to move to a nation that is widely believed to be cooperating with Israel despite public lip service to the idea of an independent Palestinian state.
At this point, nobody knows if Salah will become the new face of the Pro League or if his future lies elsewhere.
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