Mohamed Salah has broken his silence on relinquishing his iconic No. 11 shirt to Liverpool’s record-breaking £116 million signing, Florian Wirtz, sparking a wave of frustration among fans. The Egyptian superstar, who has worn the number since joining the Reds in 2017, confirmed the decision in a press conference on June 25, 2025, ahead of Liverpool’s pre-season preparations. The move, intended to welcome the 21-year-old German prodigy, has ignited a backlash, with supporters accusing the club of disrespecting their talisman.
Salah, 33, has been synonymous with the No. 11, scoring 233 goals and providing 103 assists in 352 Premier League appearances, cementing his status as Liverpool’s greatest-ever Premier League goalscorer. His comments were measured but tinged with reluctance: “It’s a club decision, and I respect it. Florian is a special talent, and I’m happy to help him settle in. I’ll pick a new number and keep doing what I do.” Reports suggest Salah will take the No. 17 shirt, previously worn by Curtis Jones, who is expected to switch numbers.
Wirtz, fresh off a stellar season at Bayer Leverkusen with 18 goals and 20 assists in 49 games, was spotted training at the AXA Training Centre on June 25, 2025, donning the No. 11. The decision, reportedly pushed by sporting director Richard Hughes to signal Wirtz’s centrality to Arne Slot’s project, has not sat well with fans. Social media platforms are ablaze with outrage, with one supporter posting, “Salah’s a legend, and they’re stripping him of his identity for a new kid? Disgraceful.” Another wrote, “Mo gave everything for this club—two Premier Leagues, a Champions League—and they do this?”
The controversy comes amid Liverpool’s transformative summer, with £185.5 million spent on Wirtz, Milos Kerkez (£40m), and Jeremie Frimpong (£29.5m), offset by Jarell Quansah’s £35 million exit to Leverkusen. Salah’s contract, set to expire in 2026, adds further tension, with rumors of interest from Saudi clubs persisting. Some fans fear the shirt swap could alienate Salah, though others defend the move, arguing Wirtz’s arrival signals a new era. As Liverpool prepare for the 2025/26 season, the No. 11 saga has cast a shadow over their ambitious rebuild, with Salah’s next steps under intense scrutiny.
