Mohamed Salah was unveiled as a player of Al-Hilal at a press conference in Riyadh on Tuesday afternoon, ending a thirteen-year association with Liverpool Football Club and bringing to a close one of the most decorated individual careers in the history of the Premier League.
Liverpool released a formal statement simultaneously with the press conference confirming that a transfer had been completed and that the club had received a fee reported by multiple outlets to be £150 million. "Liverpool Football Club can confirm that Mohamed Salah has departed the club following the completion of a transfer to Al-Hilal," the statement read. "We thank Mohamed for everything he has given this club and this city."
Salah appeared before journalists in Riyadh wearing Al-Hilal's blue and white colours alongside the Saudi club's president, Fahad bin Nafel, who described the signing as "the most significant in the history of Saudi football." Salah spoke for several minutes and was visibly emotional at points. "Liverpool gave me everything," he said. "This city, these supporters — I carry them with me wherever I go. I always will."
He confirmed that he had informed Liverpool's management of his decision approximately six weeks before the departure was made public, a timeline that the club's chief executive Billy Hogan appeared to reference in a separate statement calling the transfer "a mutual decision reached with respect and professionalism on all sides."
Manager Arne Slot, who had managed Salah for one full season at Anfield, issued a brief written statement. "Every goal, every assist, every moment he gave this club was a gift," Mr. Slot said. "We will miss him enormously. We wish him nothing but success."
Salah, 32, leaves Liverpool having scored 214 goals in all competitions — 12 short of the club's all-time Premier League scoring record. He arrives at Al-Hilal as the Saudi Pro League's most prominent signing, joining a team that had already recruited Neymar, Kalidou Koulibaly and Sergej Milinković-Savić. "I want to prove that I can still perform at the highest level," Salah said at the press conference. "I believe I can. That matters to me."
His departure ends a period of sustained excellence at Liverpool that included a Premier League title, a Champions League, an FA Cup and a League Cup. He is widely regarded as the best player in Liverpool's history across the Premier League era.