-
Mohamed Salah’s earnings have risen from less than £1 million a year at Basel to one of football’s richest contracts.
-
Liverpool turned Salah into the highest-paid player in the club’s history after years of record-breaking success.
-
His reported Trabzonspor deal marks another lucrative chapter in one of football’s greatest career transformations.
August 5, (THEWILL) — When Mohamed Salah arrived in Europe as a relatively unknown teenager from Egypt, few imagined he would become one of the richest footballers of his generation. His journey has been defined not only by goals, trophies and individual awards but also by contracts that reflected his steady rise from promising youngster to global superstar.
Each move in his career came with a significant financial leap, mirroring his growing reputation on the pitch. From humble beginnings in Switzerland to record-breaking deals in England and now a blockbuster move to Turkey, here’s how Salah’s salary evolved throughout his remarkable career.
1. Basel (2012–2014): Where the Dream Began
Estimated salary: Under £1 million per year
Salah’s first stop in European football was Swiss side Basel.
His salary was modest by European standards, but Basel offered something far more valuable: exposure. Playing in the UEFA Champions League and consistently impressing against top clubs put the young winger firmly on Europe’s radar.
Although his earnings were relatively small, these two years laid the foundation for everything that followed.
2. Chelsea (2014–2016): Bigger Money, Bigger Challenge
Estimated salary: Around £2.5 million annually
(Approximately £30,000–£48,000 per week) Chelsea paid around £11 million to sign Salah in January 2014.
His wages increased significantly after moving to the Premier League, but regular playing opportunities never arrived under José Mourinho. Salah struggled for minutes and found himself behind established stars in Chelsea’s attacking line.
Financially, it was a step forward, but football-wise it became the toughest period of his career.
3. Roma (2016–2017): The Career Revival
Estimated salary: £3.5 million–£4.3 million per year
Loan spells eventually led to a permanent move to Roma, where Salah rediscovered his confidence.
He became one of Serie A’s most dangerous attackers, scoring and creating goals with remarkable consistency. Across two seasons, he netted 34 goals and developed into one of Europe’s hottest attacking talents.
His performances made Liverpool’s decision to sign him almost inevitable.
4. Liverpool’s First Contract (2017–2018): The Bargain That Shocked England
Estimated salary: £90,000–£120,000 per week
(Around £5 million annually)
Liverpool signed Salah for £36.9 million, a fee many questioned at the time.
Within months, those doubts disappeared.
He scored 32 Premier League goals, setting a new record for a 38-game season and winning the Golden Boot. Suddenly, one of England’s most productive players was earning far less than many of his rivals.
Liverpool had landed one of football’s greatest bargains.
5. Liverpool Renewal (2018–2022): Reward for Greatness
Estimated salary: £200,000 per week
(Approximately £10.4 million annually)
After helping Liverpool win the UEFA Champions League and ending the club’s 30-year wait for a Premier League title, Salah earned a major pay rise.
The new contract reflected his status among football’s elite and recognised his importance to Jürgen Klopp’s side.
By this point, Salah had become one of the most feared forwards in world football.
6. Liverpool’s Historic Extension (2022–2025): Club Record Earnings
Estimated salary: £18.2 million–£20.8 million annually
Liverpool broke their traditional wage structure to keep Salah at Anfield.
The extension made him the highest-paid player in Liverpool’s history, ending months of speculation linking him with a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia.
The deal demonstrated just how indispensable he had become to one of Europe’s biggest clubs.
7. Liverpool’s Final Contract (2025–2026): £400,000 Every Week
Estimated salary: £400,000 per week
Annual earnings: £20.8 million, plus performance bonuses worth up to £5.2 million
Signed in April 2025, Salah’s final Liverpool deal cemented his place as the club’s top earner ahead of Virgil van Dijk.
However, despite the enormous salary, his final season proved turbulent. A difficult campaign and a widely reported fallout with manager Arne Slot ultimately brought his legendary Anfield career to an unexpected end.
Even so, Salah departed as one of Liverpool’s greatest-ever players.
8. Trabzonspor (2026–2028): A Blockbuster New Adventure
Reported salary: Around $19.6 million annually
(Approximately $377,000 per week)
Trabzonspor stunned world football by securing Salah’s signature.
Reports suggest the Egyptian earns around $19.6 million annually, while Turkish media claimed the overall package could reach €23 million per year, with additional costs pushing the investment even higher.
Although slightly below the peak wages he received at Liverpool, the agreement remains one of the richest contracts in Turkish football history.
The Turkish giants reportedly beat competition from Besiktas and several MLS clubs to land one of Africa’s greatest footballers.
From Basel Prospect to African Football Royalty
Mohamed Salah’s salary journey tells the story of persistence more than instant success.
He began in Switzerland earning less than £1 million a year, endured disappointment at Chelsea, rebuilt his career in Italy, became Liverpool’s highest-paid player, and has now embarked on another lucrative chapter in Turkey.
His financial rise mirrors his footballing evolution from an overlooked youngster into one of the greatest African footballers ever to play the game. For aspiring players across the continent, Salah’s contracts are more than numbers; they represent the rewards that can follow resilience, consistency and world-class excellence.
