The dawn of a new era at Anfield has officially begun, and it arrives with the sharp, unmistakable sting of a rebuild.
Liverpool Football Club have formally confirmed their retained and released list ahead of the 2026/27 campaign. While the annual summer clearing of the decks usually focuses on academy prospects finding their way in the game, this year’s announcement delivers a seismic jolt to the first-team squad.
Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson, and Ibrahima Konate are officially no longer Liverpool players.
The trio headlines a list of 12 departures upon the expiry of their contracts. In tandem, the club has confirmed that eight academy starlets have been offered new terms as the hierarchy looks to reshape the squad from the root up.
The first-team Exodus: A controversial finale
The headline departures represent the definitive closing of one of the most successful chapters in modern Liverpool history.
Perhaps the most bitter pill to swallow is the nature of Mohamed Salah’s exit. The Egyptian King, whose legendary status on Merseyside is undisputed, departs under a cloud following a highly publicized breakdown in his relationship with former head coach Arne Slot.
Despite Slot’s subsequent dismissal, senior sources indicate there was never any realistic prospect of a dramatic U-turn. Salah is currently weighing up lucrative offers from Saudi Arabia, Major League Soccer, (MLS) and elite European suitors.
Meanwhile, Andy Robertson’s next chapter has already been written; the tireless Scotsman has agreed to join Tottenham Hotspur on a free transfer. Ibrahima Konate’s departure is equally high-profile, with an official unveiling at Real Madrid understood to be imminent.
Academy shake-up: Cult heroes and senior youth depart
Beneath the first-team headlines, Liverpool are also drastically altering the landscape of their Under-21s setup. A total of nine academy players will leave AXA Training Centre this month.
Among them is Rhys Williams, 25, who famously stepped up during the club’s 2020/21 defensive injury crisis to help secure Champions League qualification. Joining him are fellow senior youth figures James Balagizi and Oakley Cannonier.
Cannonier, 22, will forever hold a unique place in Anfield folklore. Before rising through the goalscoring ranks of the academy, he was the sharp-witted ballboy who swiftly fed Trent Alexander-Arnold for that quick corner against Barcelona in 2019.
In a poignant twist of timing, Divock Origi the man who converted Cannonier’s quick thinking into the goal heard around the world announced his retirement from professional football earlier this week.
Confirmed Academy Releases
Defenders: Rhys Williams (25), Terence Miles (21), Josh Davidson (20), Emmanuel Airoboma (19)
Midfielders: James Balagizi (22)
Forwards: Oakley Cannonier (22), Kareem Ahmed (19)
Goalkeepers: Jacob Poytress (22), DJ Bernard (17)
Securing the future: Eight offered new terms
As the older core of the Under-21 squad departs, academy staff are pivoting toward a philosophy of quality over quantity. The club has moved proactively to secure the futures of eight promising teenagers whose current deals are expiring.
High-profile U18 and U21 standouts like forward Keyrol Figueroa and midfielder Kyle Kelly have proposals on the table. They will look to follow the blueprint of U21 captain Kieran Morrison, who recently committed his long-term future to the club with a new four-year deal.
With pre-season on the horizon, these youngsters will have a golden opportunity to impress incoming manager Andoni Iraola as he assesses the depth of talent at his disposal.
ReadLiverpoolFC Verdict
Ultimately, seeing Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson, and Ibrahima Konate on a released list feels entirely surreal. Losing over 800 games of elite-level experience in one fell swoop is an extraordinary blow to any dressing room particularly given the ugly, fractured nature of Salah’s final months at the club.
Consequently, moving on senior youth players like Williams and Balagizi clears the pathway for the next generation. Indeed, under Andoni Iraola, youth pressing and dynamism will be paramount. Therefore, by offering deals to the likes of Figueroa and Pitt, and with Morrison already locked down, Liverpool are making a definitive statement: the past is gone, and the future starts right now.