In recent statements to Sky Sports, Dutch defender and Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk put an end to the growing speculation about the future of his teammate, Egyptian star Mohamed Salah, and the possibility of his move to the Saudi Professional League during the upcoming summer transfer window, especially given his name being linked to major clubs such as Al-Ittihad and Al-Nasr.
Van Dijk emphasized Salah's importance to the team, saying, "Mohamed Salah is a fantastic and complete player, and he still has a contract with Liverpool until the end of 2027." He added, expressing his desire for Salah to stay, "I hope he continues to work like this and keeps helping the team achieve victories in the coming period.".
Regarding the negotiations, Van Dijk denied any concrete developments, emphasizing his strong relationship with Salah: “There’s nothing new regarding Mohamed Salah’s future. I have a strong relationship with him, and he’s certainly a great player who performs well. Everyone goes through a period of decline, but he’s staying at Liverpool, and he hasn’t spoken about the idea of leaving permanently.”.
Background of Saudi interest in Mohamed Salah
This was not the first time that Mohamed Salah's name was linked with a move to the Saudi League. In the summer of 2023, the transfer market witnessed a serious attempt by Al-Ittihad Saudi Club to sign the Egyptian star, as the club submitted a huge offer estimated at more than £150 million, which was met with a firm rejection from the Liverpool management and the coach at the time, Jurgen Klopp, who insisted on keeping the player as an essential and indispensable pillar in the team's project.
The importance of the deal and its potential impact
The potential transfer of Mohamed Salah is seen as the “deal of the century” for the Saudi League. Salah not only represents immense technical talent, but he is also a global Arab and Islamic sporting icon, which would give the Roshan League unprecedented media and fan attention both regionally and internationally. His arrival would enhance the league’s status as a destination for the world’s top stars, following the recruitment of luminaries like Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, and Karim Benzema, and would mark a qualitative leap in Saudi football’s ambitions towards global recognition.
On the other hand, Salah's departure from Liverpool will mark the end of a historic era and the beginning of a major challenge for the English club. Since joining in 2017, Salah has become the club's all-time leading scorer in the Premier League and one of its legends, and replacing him will require significant investment and meticulous planning to maintain the team's competitiveness in England and Europe.
