Mohamed Salah has confirmed his departure from Liverpool at the end of the 2025-26 season after nine years at Anfield, bringing the curtain down on one of the most decorated careers in English football. The Egyptian forward shared a heartfelt farewell message with supporters on March 24, expressing gratitude for a chapter that produced league titles, Champions League glory, and a cascade of individual records. What comes next, however, is the question consuming football fans across the region — and for the Saudi Pro League, the answer may be closer than ever.
Saudi Clubs at the Centre of Transfer Talk
Among the destinations attracting the most serious attention, the Saudi Pro League has emerged as the clear frontrunner. Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal — two of the four PIF-backed clubs that anchor the league’s elite tier alongside Al-Ahli and Al-Nassr — have been identified across multiple international reports as leading candidates for Salah’s signature. The 33-year-old would be available as a free agent from the summer of 2026, removing the transfer fee that would otherwise complicate negotiations at this stage of a player’s career.
Salah’s agent, Ramy Abbas Issa, has maintained deliberate ambiguity on the matter, stating: “We do not know where Mohamed will play next season. This also means no one else knows.” That open door has done little to dim the enthusiasm in Saudi football circles, where the prospect of securing one of the most recognisable names in world sport carries significance well beyond the pitch.
Al-Qadsiah, backed by Saudi Aramco and managed by former Liverpool head coach Brendan Rodgers, has also entered the conversation — adding a layer of familiar connection that those close to the player have noted could play a role in any decision.
A League That Has Earned Its Place on the Global Stage
The Saudi Pro League’s transformation from regional competition to genuine global draw has been one of sport’s defining stories of the past three years. Cristiano Ronaldo’s arrival at Al-Nassr in January 2023 opened the floodgates; Karim Benzema, Neymar, N’Golo Kanté, and dozens of other established internationals have since followed. Former Liverpool teammates Sadio Mané and Roberto Firmino have both made the transition to Saudi Arabia, lending a personal dimension to the possibility of Salah joining them.
Attendances in Saudi stadiums have climbed steadily, broadcast deals have expanded internationally, and the league’s operational standards have undergone significant investment. For a player of Salah’s profile — widely followed across the Arab world and among football fans globally — the Saudi Pro League offers not only financial strength but a platform with genuine cultural resonance.
The Vision 2030 Football Horizon
The timing of this pursuit aligns with Saudi Arabia’s most ambitious sporting chapter yet. The Kingdom is confirmed as host of the 2034 FIFA World Cup, and the sustained development of domestic football infrastructure is a core element of the preparation strategy. Bringing in an athlete of Salah’s stature would accelerate the league’s global profile and reinforce Saudi Arabia’s positioning as a world-class sporting destination.
The summer transfer window opens in June. Until then, the clubs are prepared. The league is ready. Saudi football holds its breath.
