The conclusion of the 2025/26 English Premier League campaign saw several top athletes calling time on their time with their English clubs in emotional farewell moments.
The exits from the league were headlined by Egyptian and Liverpool mainstay Mohammed Salah, who had confirmed before the end of the season his impending departure from the Merseyside club, and he received his final respects at Anfield on Sunday, May 24, 2026.
In highly emotional scenes, the entire stadium rose in the 72nd minute, applauding the talismanic forward as he walked off the pitch as a Liverpool player for the final time following a trophy-laden era. These moving scenes occurred after the player was treated to a spectacular guard of honour by his fellow Reds players, in the proud presence of his wife and two daughters.
By leaving the Reds after nine incredible years at the club, Salah departs as a true icon. A two-time Player of the Season and a Champions League winner in 2019, he has been the central figure in Liverpool’s dominance of English and global football.
During his historic tenure, he inspired the club to lift the UEFA Champions League, the elusive English Premier League title, and the FIFA Club World Cup.
Bernardo Silva
The diminutive Portuguese maestro is also set to leave Manchester City alongside manager Pep Guardiola, marking the end of a legendary nine-year career at the Etihad. The former SL Benfica and AS Monaco star originally joined City under Guardiola’s rebuild and steadily rose through the ranks to eventually become the club’s trusted captain.
Silva is widely regarded as one of the most technically gifted players to ever grace English football, consistently wowing fans with his mesmerizing dribbling, work rate, and individual brilliance.
Despite keeping his future options open ahead of his final season with the Citizens, his legacy is firmly secure as one of the Premier League’s greatest ever midfielders and an undisputed legend of the game.
John Stones
The classy England defender is another Manchester City mainstay departing the club after a long and distinguished career. Beyond his massive domestic success at club level, Stones has simultaneously played a crucial role for the England national team.
Under the guidance of Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate, the composed centre-back anchored his country’s defence during their run to the 2022 FIFA World Cup quarterfinals in Qatar. He was also instrumental in guiding England to the Euro finals, where they agonizingly lost the European Championship to Italy in a dramatic penalty shootout.
Casemiro
The former Real Madrid lynchpin headlines a major summer exit at Old Trafford, drawing the curtain on an impactful spell that began when he arrived in the English Premier League from Spain on August 22, 2022.
The Brazilian midfielder was treated to a raucous and deeply emotional farewell as Manchester United hosted Nottingham Forest in their final home game at Old Trafford last week.
He conveyed his immense gratitude in a wonderful tribute to the United faithful ahead of his final appearances in the iconic red and white colours.
In his final season, Casemiro saved his best performances for last, ranking among United’s most outstanding stars as the Red Devils successfully secured a return to the UEFA Champions League by clinching a third-place finish in the league.
Pep Guardiola
Joining this elite list of football royalty bidding farewell to the English top flight is Pep Guardiola, who has officially called time on his historic ten-year stay at Manchester City. Guardiola marked his final game as Manchester City manager in a hard-fought encounter against Aston Villa, bringing down the curtain on the most remarkable managerial spell in modern club history.
The 55-year-old previously announced he would be departing his touchline role at the end of the season, but he is expected to remain connected to the institution by taking up an influential ambassadorial role moving forward.
In his final message, he conveyed his special bond with the club’s fanbase.
