Was Extending Salah’s Deal the Right Call for Liverpool?

When Liverpool announced in April 2025 that Mohamed Salah had signed a new contract worth around £400,000 per week, keeping him at Anfield until the summer of 2027, the reaction was predictably mixed. On one hand, it was the club rewarding a modern legend — a player who has carried the team’s attack for nearly a decade and etched his name among Liverpool’s greatest. On the other, it raised a difficult question: at 33 years old, is Salah still worth the enormous investment?

Fast-forward to November, and the discussion feels as relevant as ever. The numbers tell part of the story. Across all competitions this season, Salah has made 16 appearances, scoring five goals and providing three assists. In the Premier League, he’s delivered four goals and two assists in 11 games, while in the Champions League he’s contributed one goal and one assist in four outings. He remains productive — but perhaps not decisive in the way he once was.

When you calculate his new deal, it’s clear just how big a commitment Liverpool have made. The extension takes his annual salary to around £20 million, not including bonuses or image rights — a huge outlay for a player who will be 35 when the contract ends. That kind of figure demands elite, game-changing output every week, and the question is whether Liverpool are still getting that level of return.

Adding fuel to the debate is the comparison across Stanley Park. Iliman Ndiaye, the Senegalese forward who joined Everton for just €15 million, currently has almost identical attacking numbers to Salah — four goals and one assist in the Premier League — but has achieved them in 919 minutes, compared to Salah’s 985. At 25, Ndiaye is not only eight years younger but also offers greater defensive work rate and flexibility, operating across the front line while contributing more off the ball. His wages? Around five times lower than Salah’s.

It’s an uncomfortable comparison for Liverpool, but a fair one in today’s climate. Football’s financial reality is harsh: clubs must constantly weigh sentiment against value. Salah’s legacy is beyond dispute — his goals, professionalism, and status as one of Liverpool’s all-time greats are untouchable. But this season, the club’s £400,000-a-week man is producing output comparable to a younger, cheaper rival across the city.

That’s not to diminish Salah’s influence or his continued importance in the dressing room. His leadership, mentality, and consistency remain invaluable to Arne Slot’s squad, particularly during a turbulent start to the campaign. Yet there’s no escaping the sense that Liverpool’s decision to tie down an ageing superstar on such terms could limit flexibility in the transfer market — particularly when emerging European talents might have been available for the same annual cost.

Liverpool essentially committed to nostalgia — to loyalty over long-term planning. Whether that proves smart or sentimental will depend on how Salah finishes this season. If he fires the Reds deep into the Champions League or drags them back into the title race, the price will be worth paying. But if the numbers plateau, questions about opportunity cost will only grow louder.

£20 million a year is a staggering sum for any player — even one of Salah’s stature. For now, it’s a gamble Liverpool were willing to make on a living legend. Whether it’s a decision they’ll celebrate or regret could define the next chapter of Arne Slot’s reign.