Al Ittihad Resume Mohamed Salah Transfer Pursuit Following Exit Announcement

Al Ittihad have reignited their interest in Mohamed Salah after the Egypt international confirmed his Liverpool departure scheduled for the end of this season.

Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad have officially resumed work on a Mohamed Salah transfer deal following the forward's Tuesday announcement that he will depart Liverpool at the conclusion of the current season. This development follows a previously rejected £150 million ($200m) bid submitted by the Jeddah-based club in September 2023. The 33-year-old Egypt international is now positioned to become the new face of the organization, filling a marketing and leadership void created after Karim Benzema moved to Al Hilal in February.

Salah’s statistical legacy at Anfield includes 255 goals across 435 total appearances, a tally that ranks him third on the club’s all-time scoring list. He currently trails only Ian Rush, who holds the record with 346 goals, and Roger Hunt, who finished his career with 285. In the broader context of English football history, the winger occupies the fourth spot among all-time Premier League scorers, having netted 191 goals in the competition since his arrival from Roma in 2017.

Saudi Pro League Market Dynamics

While Al Ittihad leads the chase for the Egyptian captain, Al Qadsiah is identified as the solitary Saudi Arabian rival possessing the necessary finances and ambition to challenge the offer. Despite the high-profile nature of the player, several top-tier Saudi clubs have declined interest. Sources indicate that Al Hilal, Al Ahli, and Al Nassr—the current home of Cristiano Ronaldo—are not pursuing the winger. This narrowing of the market leaves a two-way race for the signature of a player who has secured eight major trophies during his tenure in England.

Liverpool’s stance on the departure has shifted significantly. Although Salah signed a two-year contract extension in April 2025 that was intended to keep him at the club until the end of the 2026-27 season, the club will reportedly allow him to leave on a free transfer. This decision comes despite the player technically having one year remaining on that agreement at the time of his projected summer exit. The extension followed his pivotal role in securing a record-tying 20th English league title for the Merseyside outfit.

Performance Fluctuations and Internal Friction

The move comes amid a period of turbulence for the veteran attacker, whose form suffered a visible dip during the current campaign. Late last year, the forward was relegated to the bench for three consecutive fixtures. This technical decision preceded an explosive interview in which Salah publicly criticized the club’s management. During the exchange with reporters, he accused the organization of throwing him "under the bus" as the squad grappled with a disappointing sequence of results on the pitch.

Since joining the Premier League from the Italian top flight seven years ago, Salah’s trophy haul includes two Premier League titles and one Champions League trophy. His departure marks the end of an era for a player who Mark Ogden describes as having an "incredible legacy" at the club. The transition to the Middle East represents a strategic shift for Al Ittihad as they seek to recalibrate their roster following the departure of Benzema earlier this year.

Historical Context of Salah’s Liverpool Career

The Egyptian’s impact at Anfield is measured by more than just his 191 league strikes. His arrival in 2017 catalyzed a period of sustained success that saw the team reach the pinnacle of European and domestic football. By surpassing nearly every modern scoring record at the club, he cemented his status ahead of other historical greats. However, the recent friction regarding team results and his public comments regarding the internal culture have accelerated the timeline for his exit.

As the end of the season approaches, the focus shifts to whether Al Qadsiah will leverage their financial resources to outbid Al Ittihad. With Al Nassr and Al Hilal officially out of the running, the competition for the 33-year-old remains a concentrated battle between two specific Saudi entities. The conclusion of this term will finalize a tenure defined by 435 games of service and a goal-per-game ratio that transformed the modern expectations for wingers in the English top flight.