Salah and Besiktas: Where the Transfer Talks Actually Stand

Transfer Rumors, News: Salah Nearing Move to Besiktas

Mohamed Salah’s next chapter is edging closer to being written, with Turkish giants Besiktas reportedly closing in on a deal for the Egyptian forward following his free-transfer departure from Liverpool. But for a move that’s been described as “all but complete” more than once over the past few weeks, the final confirmation has proven surprisingly difficult to pin down.

Why Salah Left Liverpool

Salah’s Anfield career came to an end this summer after nine seasons that saw him make 442 appearances, score 257 goals, and provide 123 assists — numbers that place him among the greatest players in Liverpool’s history. He leaves with two Premier League titles and a Champions League to his name, but his final season ended without silverware, and reports have pointed to behind-the-scenes tension as a contributing factor to a departure that came by mutual agreement rather than a straightforward contract expiry dispute. Since leaving Liverpool, Salah’s focus shifted to Egypt’s World Cup campaign, which ended in the round of 16 against Argentina.Transfer Rumors: Man United Eyeing Camavinga Face a Real Madrid Roadblock

How the Besiktas Links Developed

Speculation connecting Salah to Besiktas first gathered pace in mid-July, with reports from Turkish outlet Sözcü and others suggesting talks were progressing well. One notable signal came when Besiktas reportedly reassigned their new signing Ouattara from the No. 11 shirt to No. 20 — freeing up the number Salah made iconic during his time at Liverpool, in what was widely read as a hint that the club expected a deal to be completed.

The Sticking Point

Despite that momentum, the deal hit a public snag when Besiktas president Serdal Adalı spoke out about the negotiations directly, accusing Salah’s agent, Ramy Abbas, of dramatically increasing his commission demands once reports of the move leaked to the media — figures Adalı described as reaching around 35%, which he said the club could not accept under any circumstances. Abbas responded on social media with characteristically cryptic posts, at one point writing that he didn’t know where Salah would play next season, adding shortly after that it wasn’t his style to negotiate with clubs Salah wouldn’t actually want to join, seemingly aimed at dampening speculation about interest from elsewhere.

Where Things Stand Now

More recent reporting suggests the two sides have moved past that impasse. Transfer journalist Nicolo Schira reported an agreement in principle between Salah and Besiktas on an initial 12-month contract with an option for a further year, worth in the region of €12 million annually — terms that would take his deal through to 2027, with the option extending it to 2028. Besiktas manager Vincenzo Italiano is said to have played a significant personal role in convincing Salah that Turkey represented the right next step, a detail that suggests the football project, not just the financial terms, has been part of what’s kept talks alive despite the commission dispute.

Who Else Was Reportedly Circling

Salah’s free-agent status this summer inevitably attracted interest beyond Besiktas. Reports at various points floated Saudi Arabia and Major League Soccer as possible destinations, with clubs including Al Ahli, an MLS side in Kansas City, and Juventus all mentioned as potential alternatives should the Besiktas talks collapse entirely. None of that speculation appears to have developed into anything concrete, and the overwhelming weight of recent reporting continues to point toward Istanbul as Salah’s most likely next stop.

The Bottom Line

The gap between “agreement in principle” and an official unveiling has stretched on longer than either side probably anticipated, largely due to a public disagreement over agent fees that’s since been aired unusually openly by a club president. But with personal terms reportedly settled, a shirt number already cleared, and Besiktas’s own head coach credited with winning Salah over personally, the pieces remain in place for a deal that looks considerably more likely to happen than not — even if the final signature has taken its time to arrive.

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