Mohamed Salah's Liverpool Exit: What It Means for Football and Finances

Al-Ahli's Renewed Pursuit: A Nine-Figure Offer on the Table?

Al-Ahli have identified Mohamed Salah as their primary summer transfer target, triggering what could become the defining saga of the 2026 window. The Saudi Pro League side is moving to replace Riyad Mahrez, whose contract was terminated by mutual agreement earlier this month. Reports from Sky Switzerland confirm the club has initiated formal inquiries into the feasibility of a deal for the Egyptian icon.

The club has reportedly requested detailed information regarding the financial and sporting requirements necessary to sign Salah.

The proposed fee is expected to exceed $100M — a sum that would set a new benchmark for a 33-year-old footballer. Al-Ahli's willingness to invest at this level underscores the Saudi Pro League's ambition to anchor its project around the world's most recognisable names, with Salah representing both elite performance and immense commercial value across the Middle East and North Africa.

• Al-Ahli view Salah as the direct replacement for the departed Riyad Mahrez, signalling a shift to a younger, more dynamic attack.
• The Saudi club has already opened discussions with Salah's representatives, though no formal bid has been lodged.
• Previous interest from Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal in 2023 and 2024 never reached this stage — this approach carries genuine weight.

The timing is no accident. With the World Cup in full swing, Salah's performances on the global stage have only amplified his marketability. Saudi decision-makers see this as a one-window opportunity to secure a player who can elevate the league's stature overnight.

Liverpool's Dilemma: Replace a Legend or Risk Decline?

Salah's output at Liverpool is irreplaceable by any single player: more than 200 goals and 80 assists since 2017, a return that places him among the club's all-time greats. Yet at 33, the arithmetic is shifting. Liverpool must decide whether to cash in on the final year of his contract or risk losing him for free in 2026 — a gamble few clubs at Anfield's scale can afford.

The decision is complicated by the lack of a ready-made successor. Piero Hincapié, the Ecuadorian defender, represents the type of young talent Liverpool might pivot toward in a rebuild, but replacing Salah's goals is a different challenge entirely. The club's recruitment team has been tracking wingers such as Takefusa Kubo and Michael Olise, but neither offers Salah's proven consistency at the highest level.

• Salah's 2025-26 campaign yielded 30 goals across all competitions — a figure no current Liverpool player can replicate without a tactical reshuffle.
• Jürgen Klopp's successor (or Klopp himself, if he stays) would need to reconfigure the attack around a central striker or a committee of creators.
• The financial rebound: losing Salah's £350,000-per-week wages frees roughly £18M annually in salary — enough to amortise two top-tier signings.

Liverpool's board faces a binary choice: secure a nine-figure fee now and trust the scouting network, or run the risk of a gradual decline as Salah ages out of his peak. The latter path could cost far more in terms of competitive standing than any transfer income.

Financial Fallout: The £60M Fee That Reshapes the Transfer Market

Should the transfer materialise, the fee — likely in the £60-80M range — would set a precedent for veteran superstars moving to Saudi Arabia. Previous benchmarks include Cristiano Ronaldo's free transfer plus astronomical wages, and Karim Benzema's similar move. But a paid fee for a 33-year-old disrupts the traditional valuation curve, where age typically discounts transfer fees sharply.

Al-Ahli's investment goes beyond the transfer fee. The total package including wages, bonuses, and commercial commitments could exceed £200M over three seasons. For Liverpool, the cash injection comes at a critical moment. The club is planning a summer rebuild, and Salah's departure would accelerate a strategy focused on younger, high-upside players.

A £60M fee for a 33-year-old would be the largest ever for a player of his age, dwarfing the previous record set by Zlatan Ibrahimović's move to LA Galaxy.

The ripple effects are already visible. Other Saudi clubs are reassessing their valuations for elite veterans, while European giants like Barcelona and Juventus see the Saudi market as a last-resort cash-out for ageing stars. If Salah commands a nine-figure fee, expect a domino effect across the continent.

• Liverpool's wage bill drops by £18M annually, enabling compliance with Premier League spending rules.
• The Saudi Pro League's spending spree could trigger inflation in the global transfer market, particularly for players over 30.
• Al-Ahli's commercial revenues from Salah's shirt sales, sponsorship, and regional broadcasting rights are expected to offset 40-50% of the cost within two years.

For Liverpool, the timing aligns with a broader transition. The club has already invested in younger attackers like Darwin Núñez and Cody Gakpo, and a Salah departure would force them to commit fully to the next generation.

Key Takeaways

• Al-Ahli's pursuit of Salah is genuine and advanced, driven by the need to replace Riyad Mahrez and elevate the Saudi league's profile.
• Liverpool faces a high-stakes decision: accept a record fee for a 33-year-old or risk losing him on a free transfer in 2026.
• The eventual fee, expected to exceed $100M, would set a new market standard for veteran superstars moving to non-European leagues.
• Salah's departure would force a tactical rebuild at Liverpool, likely accelerating the shift toward a younger, more versatile attack.
• The financial implications extend beyond Anfield, influencing how European clubs value ageing stars and how Saudi clubs allocate their transfer budgets.
• This saga underscores the Saudi Pro League's growing financial muscle as a legitimate competitor for football's biggest names, reshaping the global transfer hierarchy.