The transfer saga surrounding Mohamed Salah appears to be nearing its dramatic conclusion, with Turkish Süper Lig giants Beşiktaş now firmly in pole position to secure the signature of the former Liverpool star. Reports indicate the 34-year-old Egyptian winger is nearing a stunning agreement, potentially ending weeks of fervent speculation that has gripped the football world.

Salah, who departed Anfield as a free agent at the close of the 2025-26 season after a mutual agreement to cancel the final year of his contract, has seen his agent, Ramy Abbas Issa, fuel the anticipation. Abbas Issa took to social media, stating, “We still do not know where Mohamed will play next season but we may know very soon.” This was followed by a pointed remark: “It is not our style to have discussions with clubs that Mohamed wouldn’t want to play for, just for the sake of noise.”

The strong signals point towards Istanbul, with journalist Yağız Sabuncuoğlu reporting that Beşiktaş has made a “first offer” to Salah. Crucially, Salah, who initially sought an annual salary of €15 million ($17 million), has reportedly “lowered his salary expectations” to facilitate the move. Further cementing these claims, the player’s lawyer has reportedly arrived in Istanbul for talks, with social media reports even suggesting a verbal agreement has been reached.

Salah’s departure from Liverpool followed a troubled final campaign, where the club finished a disappointing fifth in the Premier League after a stunning title win in 2024-25. He announced his decision to leave Anfield in March after nine seasons, ending a tenure where he became the Premier League’s all-time scorer born outside England with 193 goals and a three-time Golden Boot winner.

Before Beşiktaş’s emergence, clubs in Saudi Arabia and MLS were considered strong contenders. The Saudi Pro League, in particular, had long viewed Salah as a top target, given his status as the most high-profile Arab player globally. A staggering £150 million ($200 million) bid from Al Ittihad was rejected by Liverpool in 2023, and Salah himself admitted to “serious talks” with Pro League officials in 2025 before renewing with Liverpool. MLS side Sporting Kansas City, with its Egyptian-rooted owner Peter Mallouk, also showed interest. However, a stay in Europe, offering Europa League football following Beşiktaş’s fourth-placed finish, appears to be the primary option for Salah to continue challenging his game at a high level.

For Beşiktaş, securing Salah would be a significant coup, seen as the “perfect tonic” for a club under pressure to improve results. With the FIFA World Cup 2026 concluded, all eyes are now on the official announcement that will confirm Salah’s next chapter.