This summer, some of the biggest names in world football will be departing their clubs.
From Anfield to the Bernabeu, contracts are expiring, squad roles have been taken away, and in certain cases, the relationship between player and club has broken down entirely.
For Londoners who are checking odds on football matches this season, these are the names to keep an eye on as their chapters come to a close.
Mohamed Salah, Liverpool
Liverpool confirmed in late March that Salah will leave at the end of this season, having racked up 255 goals in 435 appearances since joining from Roma in 2017.
By the time the announcement came, few were surprised.
Tensions with manager Arne Slot had been building all season, and after Salah was dropped for three consecutive games in December, many expected him to force a move in the January window.
He told reporters he felt the club were throwing him under the bus, and Saudi Pro League clubs circled throughout.
He ultimately stayed to see the season out, but the former Chelsea player’s departure this summer is now confirmed.
His form this season, ten goals in 34 appearances, has been a far cry from the player who won four Premier League Golden Boots.
Andy Robertson, Liverpool
Robertson’s contract expires this summer, and Liverpool look set to move on.
The Scotland captain joined from Hull City for £8 million pounds in 2017 and became one of the finest left-backs in the world during the Klopp era, winning the Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup among others.
Milos Kerkez’s arrival has cost Robertson his starting place, and it is high expected that a new deal is not forthcoming.
While no new club has been confirmed, Atletico Madrid remain interested, along with Tottenham, who showed interest in the January window, AC Milan, and boyhood club Celtic.
John Stones, Manchester City
After six league titles and the Champions League during his 10 years at the Etihad, Stones is set to leave without a new contract being offered.
Injuries have reduced him to 14 appearances this season, and with the club moving in a new direction, former club Everton, Bayern Munich, and other European clubs are all understood to be monitoring the situation.
It is a quiet end for a player who produced one of the most important moments in Premier League history, his goal-line clearance against Liverpool in January 2019 keeping the ball out by just 11 millimetres.
City won the game 2-1 and the title by a single point.
Casemiro, Manchester United
The Brazilian confirmed his departure from Old Trafford in January, with his contract expiring at the end of the campaign.
He arrived from Real Madrid in 2022 for around £70 million, winning five Champions League titles in his previous spell in Spain.
His time at United has been difficult to assess, featuring some commanding performances alongside phases in which his limitations at this level were exposed.
At 33, a return to Brazil or a move to Italy feels most plausible.
Antoine Griezmann, Atletico Madrid
Atletico’s all-time top scorer is heading to Orlando City in MLS this summer, with the club giving him permission to travel to the United States to finalise the move.
Griezmann, who turned 35 in March, has netted 200 goals across two spells at the Metropolitano, won the Europa League, and played a leading role in France’s 2018 World Cup triumph over Croatia.
It is a remarkable career coming to a close on its own terms.
David Alaba, Real Madrid
Alaba arrived from Bayern Munich in 2021 with a reputation as one of the most complete defenders in Europe. An ACL injury in December 2023 essentially ended his relevance at the club.
He has featured in fewer than five matches this season, has not been offered a new contract, and will leave the Bernabeu as a free agent in June.
His legacy in Madrid is one of great promise interrupted by injury rather than years of consistent impact.
Robert Lewandowski, Barcelona
At 37, Lewandowski remains Barcelona’s leading scorer in La Liga this season, but negotiations over a renewal have stalled.
The club has offered significantly reduced terms, while some voices inside the organisation believe the money could be better spent on a long-term replacement.
He joined from Bayern Munich in 2022 and delivered consistently in front of goal throughout his time at the Camp Nou.
Whether he accepts a pay cut to stay, or seeks a final move elsewhere, anyone following football tips this season will know that one of the great goalscorers of his generation is approaching the end of his time at the top of European football.
Feature image: Jarmoluk
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