Mohamed Salah's Future Takes Dramatic Turn as MLS Emerges as 'More Appealing' Option Over Saudi Arabia
Major League Soccer is said to be viewed as a "more attractive" option for Mohamed Salah compared to a move to Saudi Arabia, suggesting the Liverpool star could potentially end up in North America rather than the Middle East in the future.
Salah remains under contract with Liverpool through June 2027. A highly publicized disagreement with manager Arne Slot seems to have been mostly resolved since the player's return from the Africa Cup of Nations, though the possibility of a summer departure hasn't been definitively settled.
For an extended period, it was widely believed that Salah would eventually move to Saudi Arabia after leaving Liverpool, given his status as a long-standing target for the nation's Pro League due to his iconic standing throughout the region. However, Liverpool correspondent James Pearce has lent support to the idea of an MLS move instead.
"The MLS represents another potential destination for him," Pearce mentioned on The Athletic's Walk On podcast. "I've been told that it's actually more attractive in several respects than the Saudi Pro League."
In sharp contrast to three consecutive bench appearances that triggered his December criticism aimed at Liverpool and Slot, Salah has been in the starting lineup for every match since AFCON. Despite having another year remaining on the contract he signed last April, factors including his age, declining production, substantial wages, and the team's natural progression could all contribute to making a departure in the upcoming months not just possible, but probable.
What About MLS Would Appeal to Salah?
What About MLS Would Appeal to Salah?
There's no question that Saudi Arabia will continue to be a viable option and that Salah could earn significantly more in the Gulf Kingdom than from any MLS franchise—though Lionel Messi's $20.45 million compensation demonstrates that substantial money can still be earned in America. However, there are clearly additional considerations for a player who has already accumulated generational wealth over the past decade.
Messi selected MLS over Saudi Arabia in 2023, despite having contractual obligations to the latter as a tourism representative for the nation. Both the eight-time Ballon d'Or recipient and his spouse, Antonela Roccuzzo, have expressed positive sentiments about the lifestyle they now experience away from the pitch.
MLS is perceived as operating at a lower standard than Europe's premier leagues, but Messi's observations about the playing style could provide additional insight into Salah's potential interest.
"I believe it's a very energetic and physical competition where clubs aim to score goals and play offensively," the Argentine shared with Apple TV in 2025.
"There are numerous high-scoring encounters, and it's somewhat connected to the nation we're in and the sports culture they're accustomed to, where there's typically plenty of entertainment, scoring, and offensive strategies. The league has developed and continues developing, and I'm confident this growth won't cease."
Egypt's qualification for the 2026 World Cup will provide Salah with firsthand experience of the United States and Canada, as The Pharaohs are scheduled to play two group matches in Seattle and another in Vancouver. He could potentially join an MLS club following his tournament participation sometime in July.
Which MLS Teams Could Sign Salah?
Which MLS Teams Could Sign Salah?
Not all MLS markets would be able to pursue Salah, and certain teams, such as Inter Miami, lack the capacity to accommodate him due to their already complete Designated Player (DP) allocation.
To date, the most frequently mentioned clubs have been Chicago Fire, who are also pursuing Barcelona forward Robert Lewandowski in an effort to re-establish themselves as a competitive force in the league, and San Diego FC.
San Diego is supported by Egyptian-born billionaire Mohamed Mansour, and since individual clubs are financially responsible for DP salaries beyond the salary cap, owner resources certainly matter, as demonstrated by billionaire Jorge Mas in Miami.
Likewise in Los Angeles, LAFC has an available DP position, along with a vacant No. 10 jersey—Salah has worn this number for Egypt since 2014.
No MLS franchise is publicly known to possess Discovery Rights, which grants exclusive negotiating access to international players, for Salah. Inter Miami previously held them for Kevin De Bruyne before releasing them, and Sporting Kansas City obtained them for Cristiano Ronaldo in 2022. Vancouver Whitecaps paid $200,000 for Thomas Müller's Discovery Rights from FC Cincinnati last year.