Mohamed Salah is departing from Liverpool; what are his potential next destinations?

The conclusion of an era is upon us: Mohamed Salah will depart Liverpool at the season’s end after nine years, a multitude of records, and several significant trophies.

His influence on Liverpool is immense. He arrived in 2016 when the club was still grappling with a lengthy wait for a league title. What followed — winning the Premier League in both 2019-20 and 2024-25, along with the Champions League in 2018-19 — will be remembered in Merseyside for years to come.

As this chapter concludes, the question arises: where might Salah go next? ESPN’s reporters from around the globe have sought to uncover potential destinations.

Could the Saudi Pro League be a possibility?

Following the arrivals of Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Pro League views itself as a plausible option for Salah.

As one of the top earners in the Premier League, a substantial financial offer will be necessary to entice him elsewhere. The SPL is among the few leagues capable of accommodating his salary — and compensating for some of the income lost by relinquishing the final year of his contract with Liverpool.

Sources in Saudi Arabia have informed ESPN that Al Ittihad is perceived as the leading contender for his signature. They previously made an unsuccessful $200 million bid for Salah in September 2023 and subsequently lost Benzema to Al Hilal in the last transfer window. ESPN reported on Wednesday that Al Ittihad has already renewed its efforts to secure a deal.

Al Qadsiah, managed by Brendan Rodgers, is regarded as another possibility. Rodgers, who departed Liverpool just over 18 months before Salah’s arrival, has specifically requested a right winger. Additionally, Al Qadsiah is eager to sign a star player ahead of the opening of their new stadium later this year — a venue set to host matches during the World Cup in 2034.

ESPN sources indicated that Al Diriyah and Al Ula could also express interest in Salah if they achieve promotion to the SPL. However, currently, Al Hilal, which signed Benzema in February, is considered unlikely to pursue the Egypt international. — Rob Dawson

What other options are available?

play1:53Could Liverpool sign Kvaratskhelia or Olise to replace Salah?

Craig Burley discusses potential signings for Liverpool to fill the void left by Mohamed Salah.

BARCELONA

Not long ago, the prospect of Salah joining Barcelona on a free transfer would have been too enticing for a rebuilding club to overlook. High-profile free transfers like Ilkay Gündogan and Sergio Aguero have occurred in recent years, but club insiders have informed ESPN that the strategy this summer is to focus on younger players. Lamine Yamal occupies Salah’s preferred right wing position, while Raphinha is the primary choice on the opposite side.

ESPN sources have indicated that there is a desire for additional wing support for these two players — Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford remains a consideration, if not someone younger — while a new striker is also sought, as reported by ESPN this week. However, Salah is not being contemplated for either role due to the salary he would demand. — Sam Marsden

REAL MADRID

Real Madrid has long been mentioned as a potential destination for Salah if he were to leave Anfield, but that was some time ago. There has been no indication that he is on their radar this summer. Madrid has a history of acquiring elite talent on free transfers — consider Kylian Mbappé, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Antonio Rüdiger, and David Alaba — but those players were not approaching 34 years old when they joined the Bernabéu. The club has typically been hesitant to offer multi-year contracts to players over 30, especially those with Salah’s anticipated wage expectations, making a move for him a significant shift in policy.

There have been suggestions that Madrid may seek to sign experienced players this summer to complement their young talent and address expected departures, but this is more likely to occur in midfield or defense. A transfer for Salah would be a considerable surprise. — Alex Kirkland

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN

Similar to Madrid, PSG has entertained the idea of signing Salah for many years. Club president Nasser Al Khelaifi has made attempts to facilitate this, and he is well-acquainted with Salah’s agent. However, circumstances have evolved. PSG is no longer a viable option for Salah due to his age and salary demands.

The club has shifted away from veteran star players and is instead placing greater trust in their young talent, which led to last season’s Champions League triumph. For various reasons, Salah no longer aligns with PSG’s vision. — Julien Laurens

GALATASARAY

One potential destination that has been speculated since Salah’s public announcement is Galatasaray. However, a source has informed ESPN that the Turkish club has not engaged in discussions regarding a move for Salah, with any transfer being highly improbable given their recent investment in Leroy Sané from Bayern Munich last summer. — Dawson

Is Major League Soccer a possibility? If so, where?

INTER MIAMI

Inter Miami currently does not have an open Designated Player slot available to offer Salah, as Lionel Messi, Rodrigo De Paul, and recent signing Germán Berterame occupy the three positions.

Although De Paul initially joined Inter Miami on loan during the MLS season without a DP slot available at that time, a similar arrangement is not feasible for Salah at this moment. The Argentine midfielder joined just months before the contract of former Designated Player Sergio Busquets expired, allowing De Paul to take his place on the roster at the season’s conclusion.

Once the season concluded, Inter Miami automatically activated De Paul’s clause to make his contract permanent under the new DP position. Salah’s exit from Liverpool, however, comes at a challenging time for Inter Miami to adjust their DPs. Messi recently extended his contract through 2028, while De Paul and Berterame’s contracts run through the 2028-2029 MLS season. — Lizzy Becherano

REST OF MLS

If MLS Commissioner Don Garber has his way, Salah would be playing in MLS immediately. Speaking at the Sports Business Journal’s Business of Soccer event in Atlanta, Garber expressed his desire to see Salah in the league. “I couldn’t say that until he announced that he was leaving Liverpool,” Garber stated. “But what a fantastic player he would be in MLS. I believe we would provide him with an excellent platform.”

Where Salah might ultimately land remains uncertain, as no MLS teams have confirmed they are pursuing the Egypt international. One ESPN source indicated that San Diego FC, whose lead owner is Egyptian businessman Sir Mohamed Mansour, is “not at the moment” working on a deal to bring Salah to SDFC. The same applies to the Chicago Fire — which has shown interest in players like Neymar in the past — with a source telling ESPN that there was “nothing concrete” regarding a potential pursuit of Salah.

LAFC declined to comment on the matter, although they seem constrained by their commitment to a two Designated Player and four under-22 initiative signings strategy that would hinder their ability to pursue Salah. However, this situation could change later this summer when Salah becomes available. — Jeff Carlisle