Mohamed Salah (33) is set to leave Liverpool at the conclusion of the 2025-26 season after reaching a mutual agreement to terminate his contract one year early, with Fenerbahce now emerging as a primary suitor. As first reported by Anfield Watch, the Egyptian forward will depart Anfield following a decade of service and a dip in form under manager Arne Slot. Fenerbahce, managed by Jose Mourinho, have reportedly tabled a three-year contract offer worth a total of £52 million (€20 million per year), according to the Mirror. This move would reunite Salah with the manager who originally brought him to English football with Chelsea in 2014.
Fenerbahce Financial Package and Competing Interest
Preliminary talks between Salah's representative, Ramy Abbas, and Fenerbahce officials have already taken place, as reported by Africa Soccer. The proposed €20 million annual salary illustrates the Turkish club's intent to compete with the financial might of the Saudi Pro League, where Al-Ittihad remains a long-standing admirer. While the Mirror indicates the Turkish side is a serious contender, other European heavyweights including Real Madrid, Juventus, and Inter Milan are understood to be monitoring the situation. AS Roma have also explored a potential return for the winger, though Gazzetta dello Sport notes that the Italian club's strict €4 million annual salary cap is a significant obstacle given Salah's current earning power and the competing offers from Istanbul and the Middle East.
Contextualising the Liverpool Departure
The decision to void the final year of Salah's contract marks a definitive end to one of the most prolific eras in Liverpool's history. Since his €42 million move from Roma in 2017, Salah has been the cornerstone of a side that won every major trophy available, yet his influence has waned this term. Speaking on the Football Fancast platform, former Liverpool striker Michael Owen suggested the club's first priority must be finding a direct replacement for his output. Tactical friction has also played a role; Slot’s system has prioritised a different profile of wide player, contributing to Salah's reduced minutes compared to his peak years under Jurgen Klopp. Moving to the Süper Lig would offer Salah a high-profile European platform under Mourinho while securing a final major contract that sits between the European elite's wage structures and the outlier figures offered in Saudi Arabia.
Fenerbahce and Salah's representatives are expected to continue negotiations as the player evaluates whether to remain in Europe or pursue the leading role and superior financial returns offered by the Saudi Pro League.