Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and Kevin De Bruyne are three of the biggest stars in the Premier League, each having played pivotal roles in helping their respective clubs win major honors. However, all three players are entering the final six months of their contracts, leaving their futures uncertain. Salah (32) and Van Dijk (33) are yet to be offered new deals by Liverpool, and De Bruyne (33) is still awaiting confirmation on his future at Manchester City. Alongside them, Tottenham’s Son Heung-Min (32) is also in a similar contract situation.
Several other players in their 30s, such as Harry Maguire (31), Christian Eriksen (32), Jorginho (32), and Thomas Partey (31), are also approaching crucial points in their careers, with uncertainty surrounding whether they will be retained or released at the end of the season. While players like Salah, Van Dijk, and De Bruyne have been integral to their teams’ success, decisions regarding their futures will largely depend on their potential to maintain high performance over the next 18 months to two years.
As one Premier League sporting director explained, clubs must assess a range of factors when considering whether to offer a player in their 30s a new deal. This includes squad depth, the availability of a younger replacement, salary justification, and the player’s fitness, as well as performance data from games and training. In the case of Salah, his form has been exceptional, as he currently sits at the top of the Premier League’s scoring chart with 13 goals, though his injury history may be a concern. Van Dijk, despite having missed 77 games due to injury, has shown impressive fitness in recent years.
De Bruyne, however, has struggled with injuries, having missed 51 games since the start of the 2023-24 season. His future at City may depend on the club’s assessment of his fitness and potential for further injury problems. Ultimately, clubs must carefully balance the benefits of retaining experienced players against the potential risks of aging and declining performance. In some cases, players may even opt for a pay cut to stay at a club, while others might seek lucrative offers abroad, particularly in Saudi Arabia. For now, these aging stars face difficult decisions about their futures in top-level football.
