Mohamed Salah is on the verge of completing a move to Besiktas, according to local reports. The potential arrival of the Egyptian forward has sent shockwaves through Turkish football, where such a transfer would rank among the most significant in the country’s sporting history.
“We’re waiting for the announcement,” declares Taha, a Besiktas supporter seated on the stadium steps in Istanbul this Saturday evening. His eyes fixed on his phone, he follows every update about Mohamed Salah (34), currently a free agent and reportedly close to signing with the Turkish club. Local sources suggest a one-year contract with an option to extend, valued at €12 million plus performance bonuses.
“This could easily be the biggest transfer in the club’s history—and even in Turkish football,” states Eren Tutel, a Besiktas specialist and journalist for BirGün. “I can’t think of any other signing that combines such sporting quality, global recognition, and commercial appeal.”
A struggling club seeks revival
The anticipation in Istanbul is palpable. A video circulating online shows a supporter waking from general anesthesia, immediately asking whether Salah has signed. Since their 2021 league title, Besiktas has slipped behind rivals Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe, and Trabzonspor, finishing fourth last season. The club’s morale is at an all-time low.
To reverse this trend, Besiktas has already secured the services of Leandro Trossard from Arsenal for €18 million. The Belgian winger (31), fresh off an English Premier League title, was introduced to 20,000 fans last Thursday, with supporters chanting Salah’s name. “Besiktas needs to build a balanced team around him—something that’s been missing in recent years,” notes Tutel.
Ali, a 32-year-old fan draped in a black-and-white scarf, heads toward the club shop beneath the stadium. “I came to check out the new season’s jerseys, but I’ll wait to buy Salah’s,” he says. If the deal goes through, both the club shop and Istanbul Airport will be inundated with fans eager to welcome the Egyptian star.
Sahit, another supporter outside the stadium, ranks Salah’s potential arrival above past signings like Quaresma—a club legend with 154 appearances between 2015 and 2019—and Victor Osimhen’s move to Galatasaray in 2024. “Salah’s trophy cabinet speaks for itself,” Sahit argues. A three-time Premier League winner (2015 with Chelsea, 2020 and 2025 with Liverpool) and 2019 Champions League champion, Salah arrives in Turkey as one of football’s most decorated players. “He’s also Egypt’s most beloved athlete—a true national ambassador,” adds Caner Isbegendiren of Fanatik, who cautions that negotiations are still ongoing.
