Salah to Besiktas: a transfer that could redefine Turkish football
Egyptian star Mohamed Salah appears on the brink of joining Besiktas, a move that would send shockwaves through Turkish football. The potential transfer has ignited excitement across Istanbul, where fans anticipate one of the most historic deals in the country’s football history.
“The announcement is imminent,” exclaims Taha, a Besiktas supporter perched on the stadium steps overlooking the Bosphorus. The 24-year-old keeps refreshing his phone, tracking every update about Mohamed Salah (34), the Egyptian winger now a free agent. Local reports suggest a one-year deal with an option to extend, valued at €12 million including performance bonuses.
“This could easily become the biggest signing in club history—and in all of Turkish football,” declares Eren Tutel, a Besiktas specialist and journalist. “No other player combines this level of talent, global fame, and commercial appeal.”
Sahit, another fan outside the stadium, compares Salah’s potential arrival to past legends like Quaresma—who made 154 appearances for Besiktas between 2015 and 2019—and Victor Osimhen’s move to Galatasaray in 2024. “Salah brings more trophies,” he argues. A three-time Premier League winner (2015 with Chelsea, 2020 and 2025 with Liverpool) and Champions League champion (2019), the Egyptian forward would arrive in Turkey with an unmatched resume. “Plus, he’s the most popular athlete in Egypt—a true national icon,” adds Caner Isbegendiren, football editor at Fanatik, while cautioning that talks are still ongoing.
A club in crisis and a signing that could spark a revival
Besiktas’ 2021 title feels like a distant memory. Fans are demoralized after last season’s fourth-place finish, trailing behind Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe, and Trabzonspor. The club’s morale hit rock bottom, but Salah’s potential arrival might change everything. “Besiktas needs to build a balanced team around him,” Tutel notes. “That’s been their biggest flaw in recent years.”
To reverse the trend, Besiktas has already made their first move, signing Belgian winger Leandro Trossard from Arsenal for €18 million. The 31-year-old, fresh off an English league title, was unveiled to 20,000 cheering fans—many chanting Salah’s name. His arrival could pave the way for more high-profile signings.
Ali, 32, clad in Besiktas’ black-and-white jersey, heads toward the club store beneath the stadium. “I came for the new season kits, but I’ll wait to buy Salah’s,” he says. If the deal goes through, expect the store—and Istanbul’s airport—to burst at the seams.
