Mohamed Salah has announced he will leave Liverpool at the end of the season, bringing an end to what the club has described as a “remarkable” nine-year spell at Anfield.

The Egyptian forward confirmed his decision while expressing gratitude to the club and its supporters, describing his time at Liverpool as “the best time of my life”.

Liverpool said an agreement had been reached with the 33-year-old to terminate his contract a year early, allowing him to become a free agent at the end of the current campaign.

Salah had signed a contract extension only last April, but a difficult season—during which he was dropped and became involved in a public disagreement with head coach Mr. Arne Slot—has hastened his departure.

In a statement, the club said: “Salah expressed his wish to make this announcement to the supporters at the earliest possible opportunity to provide transparency about his future due to his respect and gratitude for them.”

Widely regarded as one of Liverpool’s greatest players, Salah will make his final appearance at Anfield against Brentford on May 24, the last day of the Premier League season.

Tributes have begun to pour in from team-mates, with Mr. Andy Robertson describing him as “the greatest”, while Mr. Cody Gakpo hailed him as a “true legend”.

Signed from AS Roma for £34 million in the summer of 2017, Salah will depart as Liverpool’s third-highest goalscorer. During his time at the club, he has won the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, FA Cup, and Carabao Cup.

The forward, who has lifted seven major trophies with Liverpool, could yet add to his honours before the season concludes.

The Premier League champions remain in contention on multiple fronts. They are set to face Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League and will take on Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

Liverpool are also pushing to secure qualification for next season’s Champions League. Mr. Slot’s side currently sit fifth in the Premier League, a position expected to be sufficient for qualification, with seven matches remaining.

Salah’s agent has indicated that his next destination remains undecided, although several Saudi Arabian clubs are reportedly interested in signing the forward this summer.

The Egyptian has long been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, a possibility that gained traction earlier this season following a high-profile interview after he was dropped for a match against Leeds United.

Less than three years ago, Liverpool rejected a £150 million bid from Saudi club Al Ittihad for Salah.