Mohamed Salah, the 33-year-old Liverpool forward, is understood to be the subject of a direct pursuit by Major League Soccer expansion side San Diego FC following the league’s decision to grant a discovery exemption for the Egyptian international. The move allows San Diego to bypass standard MLS recruitment protocols to negotiate directly with Salah, who announced in March 2026 that he will leave Liverpool as a free agent at the conclusion of the 2025-26 season. Despite signing a contract extension in April 2025 that was intended to run until 2027, Salah reached an agreement with the Premier League club to depart 12 months early following a breakdown in relations with the hierarchy at Anfield.
San Diego FC emerges as leading MLS destination
According to reports from RealGM Soccer, MLS has designated Salah as exempt from its standard discovery process, a mechanism usually used to assign priority rights for incoming talent. This administrative shift clears the path for San Diego FC, owned by Egyptian-British billionaire Sir Mohamed Mansour, to lead the North American interest. The club, which joined MLS as an expansion franchise, represents a unique proposition for Salah due to Mansour’s existing ties to Egypt through the 'Right to Dream' academy network. Speaking on the potential move, Mansour noted that while any global team would be interested, the choice remains a strategic one. "The decision is corporate. The decision is business," Mansour stated, as reported by Dave Ockop.
Friction at Anfield despite record-breaking form
The impending exit follows a period of significant tension between the player and the club. In December 2025, Salah commented in an interview reported by GiveMeSport that he felt he had been "thrown under the bus" by Liverpool leadership. This internal friction exists in stark contrast to his on-pitch output; during the 2024-25 campaign, Salah became the first player in Premier League history to win the Golden Boot, Player of the Season, and Playmaker of the Season in a single year, scoring 32 goals to lead Liverpool to the league title. However, his minutes and relationship with manager Arne Slot have come under increased scrutiny during the current 2025-26 season, prompting the decision to terminate his stay a year ahead of his £350,000-a-week contract's original expiry.
Tactical fit and the Saudi Pro League challenge
For San Diego FC, Salah would serve as a foundational signing akin to Inter Miami’s acquisition of Lionel Messi. MLS Commissioner Don Garber recently addressed the rumours, telling OneFootball: "If [Salah] ever decides to come to Major League Soccer, we'd welcome him with open arms." San Diego’s interest is positioned as a direct alternative to the Saudi Pro League. Al Nassr—where he would join Cristiano Ronaldo—and Al Ittihad are understood to be in contention for his signature, according to World Soccer Talk. While the Saudi clubs offer significant financial packages, San Diego’s pitch is believed to centre on the long-term integration of Salah into Mansour’s football ecosystem, which already has a massive footprint in Salah’s native Egypt.
Project timeline and final steps
With Salah’s free agency confirmed for the summer of 2026, the player is now legally permitted to sign a pre-contract agreement with clubs outside of England. The discovery exemption granted by MLS effectively makes San Diego the sole North American bidder capable of presenting a formal offer at this stage. Competing interest from Saudi Arabia remains the primary obstacle for the MLS side, with Al Nassr reportedly prepared to offer terms that would make Salah one of the world's highest-paid athletes. Salah is expected to finalise his decision before the conclusion of the European domestic season in May.
