Mohamed Salah nearing Besiktas deal that would rewrite turkish football history
Mohamed Salah is on the verge of finalizing a move to Besiktas, according to local reports. The potential arrival of the former Liverpool star in Turkey would mark one of the most groundbreaking transfers in the country’s football history.
«We’re waiting for the announcement», exclaims Taha, a Besiktas fan seated on the club’s stadium steps in Istanbul this Saturday evening. Gazing across the Bosphorus, the young supporter checks his phone for updates on Mohamed Salah (34), now a free agent and reportedly close to joining the Turkish side. Local press suggests a one-year renewable deal worth €12 million, plus bonuses, has been agreed upon.
«This could easily be the biggest transfer in the club’s history—and even the entire Turkish league», says Eren Tutel, a Besiktas expert and journalist for BirGün. «I can’t think of another signing who combines such elite skill, global fame, and commercial appeal.»
Besiktas in crisis: Salah’s arrival could spark a domino effect of high-profile moves
In Istanbul, anticipation is palpable. A viral video shows a fan waking from surgery, immediately asking if Salah has signed. Since their 2021 title, Besiktas has struggled, finishing fourth last season, trailing rivals Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe, and Trabzonspor.
To reverse its fortunes, Besiktas has already swooped for Leandro Trossard from Arsenal for €18 million. The 31-year-old Belgian, fresh off an English Premier League win, was presented to 20,000 fans last Thursday, with chants of the Egyptian winger’s name echoing through the stands. His arrival could pave the way for more blockbuster deals, Tutel notes: «Besiktas needs to build a balanced squad around him—something it has lacked in recent years.»
Ali, 32, wearing a black-and-white jersey, heads toward the club shop beneath the stadium. «I’m here for the new-season jerseys, but I’ll wait to buy Salah’s», he says. If the deal goes through, the store—and even the airport—will be overwhelmed by fans eager to welcome the Egyptian superstar.
Why Salah stands above past Besiktas legends
Sahit, another fan outside the stadium, ranks Salah’s potential arrival above that of Quaresma, the club’s 2015–2019 legend, and Osimhen’s move to Galatasaray in 2024. «He brings more prestige», Sahit argues. A three-time Premier League winner (2015 with Chelsea, 2020 and 2025 with Liverpool) and Champions League champion (2019), Salah arrives in Turkey laden with trophies. «Plus, he’s his country’s most beloved figure—almost an ambassador for Egypt», adds Caner Isbegendiren of Fanatik, who cautions that talks are still ongoing.