Mohamed Salah and Beşiktaş: negotiations are heating up, but the agent plays down expectations
Mohamed Salah is once again one of the main topics of the European football market after claims emerged on July 17, 2026, that Beşiktaş had sent a concrete offer to the Egyptian forward. According to reports from Turkish and French media, the Istanbul club is trying to persuade the 34-year-old star to continue his career in the Süper Lig, while members of his legal team are reportedly also involved in the negotiations. Some sources claim that Salah initially requested around 15 million euros per year during the early stage of the talks, but later agreed to lower his financial expectations in order to create room for an agreement. At the same time, a message from his representatives stated that no final decision had been made and that it was not possible to speak of a confirmed transfer. For that reason, despite the considerable interest in Turkey and beyond, the entire story should currently be treated as a serious transfer rumor rather than a completed deal.
Different reports about the salary and contract length
The most concrete figures were published by Foot Mercato, which, during July 17, first relayed information from Turkish sources stating that Beşiktaş was offering around 12 million euros per year. The same report said that Salah's initial demand was approximately 15 million euros per season and that he was willing to discuss a lower amount. Later, the same French outlet reported that the alleged framework of the agreement included a basic salary of approximately 10 million euros, another two million in bonuses and a one-year contract with an option to extend it for an additional season. The difference between the published amounts indicates that the negotiating details are still changing or that different sources possess different versions of the discussions. Until the club or the player's representative announces the official terms, none of these figures should be considered final.
Turkish journalist Yağız Sabuncuoğlu reported that Beşiktaş had sent its first official offer and that Salah had reduced his demands after the initial discussion. According to his information, the player's legal representative arrived in Istanbul to participate in the negotiations. A Spor also reported that Beşiktaş had moved closer to an agreement with the Egyptian international, while Foot Mercato later went a step further and claimed that an agreement in principle existed. However, the available information does not confirm that a contract has been signed, that a medical examination has been completed or that the player's registration has been carried out. These are precisely the steps that separate advanced negotiations from an officially completed signing in deals of this kind.
Agent says the future is still unknown
The most important reason for caution is the reaction of Salah's agent, Ramy Abbas Issa. Following media claims of an agreement with Beşiktaş, the agent publicly stated that even he personally did not yet know where Salah would play next season, directly calling into question reports that an agreement had already been reached. His message does not rule out a move to Istanbul, but it clearly shows that the decision cannot be presented as official. He took a similar approach in March, after Salah's departure from Liverpool had been confirmed, when he warned that nobody outside the immediate negotiating circle could reliably know the next destination. In a situation in which several markets are competing for a player of such a profile, such a statement may also be a way of maintaining negotiating flexibility.
As of July 18, there is no announcement about Salah's arrival on Beşiktaş's official channels. During the same period, the club officially presented Leandro Trossard and published a series of updates about preparations for the 2026/27 season, showing that it normally confirms new players through its own communication channels. The absence of an announcement does not in itself mean that negotiations are not taking place, but it confirms that the deal has not yet been publicly presented as completed. During transfer windows, clubs often negotiate with several players in parallel, while representatives compare financial, sporting and personal terms. Therefore, the final outcome may change right up until the signing of the contract and official registration.
Salah is a free agent after nine years at Liverpool
Salah's market situation differs significantly from a conventional transfer because he left Liverpool after the end of the 2025/26 season. The English club announced on March 24, 2026, that an agreement had been reached with the forward to conclude his nine-year period at Anfield. At the time of that announcement, Salah had scored 255 goals in 435 appearances, and Liverpool described him as one of the greatest players in its history. During his time at the club, he won two English league titles, the Champions League, the FIFA Club World Cup, the UEFA Super Cup, the FA Cup, two League Cups and the Community Shield. His status as a free agent means that Beşiktaş would not pay Liverpool a transfer fee, but the total value of the deal could still be extremely high because of the salary, signing bonuses, representative fees and potential commercial rights.
For Beşiktaş, signing such a player would be one of the most striking reinforcements in the recent history of Turkish football. Salah brings not only goals and experience at the highest European level, but also exceptional international recognition. His popularity is particularly great in the Arab world and Africa, as well as among Premier League supporters around the world. The club could therefore expect a strong effect on shirt sales, sponsor interest and global visibility, although commercial revenues alone do not guarantee that they would cover all the costs of the contract. This is precisely why negotiations about salary, bonuses and a share of commercial income may be just as important as the sporting part of the agreement.
Why Beşiktaş could be an attractive choice
According to Foot Mercato's reports, Salah wants to remain in Europe, while Beşiktaş is offering him the opportunity to become the central figure of an ambitious project in a major football city. The Istanbul club finished the previous season in fourth place in the Süper Lig and is entering the new campaign with the aim of closing the gap on Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe and strengthening its competitiveness in Europe. The arrival of Leandro Trossard has already shown that the management is trying to bring in experienced and internationally recognized names. Salah would, of course, represent a considerably larger sporting and financial undertaking, but he would also immediately raise the supporters' expectations and the pressure on the entire team. For the player, such a transfer would mean remaining in European club football, regularly competing for trophies and holding an important role without the need to adapt to a completely different sporting environment.
There is also tactical logic. Salah has spent most of his career playing on the right side of the attack, from where he cuts inside onto his stronger left foot, but with age he increasingly relies on his vision, well-timed movement and finishing rather than exclusively on speed. In the Süper Lig, he would probably be given considerable freedom in the final third of the pitch, while opponents would have to adjust their defense to his positioning. Nevertheless, Beşiktaş would have to build a system that reduces his defensive burden and allows him to remain fresh for decisive actions. At the age of 34, managing his minutes, recovery and schedule becomes more important, especially if the club is simultaneously playing domestic and European matches. A short-term contract with an extension option could therefore suit both parties because it reduces the long-term risk.
Competition from Saudi Arabia and the United States
Beşiktaş is not the only possible destination. After Salah announced his departure from Liverpool, The Guardian wrote that several Saudi clubs had the financial strength and sporting interest required to sign him. In Saudi Arabia, Salah would have the status of one of the league's biggest stars, while his regional significance would be greater than the usual marketing effect of a famous footballer. At the same time, reports emerged of interest from clubs in the American MLS, including Sporting Kansas City, while some media outlets also mentioned other European possibilities. It has not been officially confirmed how many offers have actually reached the table or which clubs currently lead the race. Therefore, Salah's alleged willingness to accept a lower salary may mean that the sporting project and remaining in Europe play an important role, but it may also be part of a negotiating strategy.
A financial comparison of the offers is not simple because the media usually publish only the estimated annual salary. The final package may include appearance, goal, trophy and European qualification bonuses, as well as a signing fee, image rights and the possibility of terminating or extending the contract. Tax treatment also differs from one country to another, so a nominally higher amount does not necessarily represent a better overall offer. For Beşiktaş, it is essential to find a model that will not disrupt the team's wage structure and financial stability. For Salah's team, the sporting role, contract duration, payment security and the club's plans for domestic and international competitions are important.
The World Cup accelerated the decision about the next step
The new wave of rumors appeared immediately after the end of Salah's participation at the 2026 World Cup. On July 7, Egypt lost 3-2 to Argentina in the round of 16, despite leading 2-0 during the match. According to The Guardian's report, Argentina turned the result around in the closing stages, while the match was also marked by protests from the Egyptian players over several refereeing decisions. With the national team's elimination, Salah completed his competitive commitments and gained the opportunity to focus on his club future. This is precisely why the intensification of the talks in the second half of July appears logical in terms of timing, although it still does not prove that Beşiktaş has definitely been chosen.
Salah finds himself in a rare position: he is a free agent with enormous experience, a global reputation and still considerable sporting value, but at the same time he is entering a phase of his career in which he will probably carefully select the duration and intensity of his next project. His decision will affect several markets because signing for Beşiktaş would represent a powerful signal that Turkish clubs can attract the biggest names even outside the usual final phase of their careers. A move to Saudi Arabia would confirm the continuation of its strategy of signing global stars, while MLS would gain one of the most famous names in its history. If he remains in Europe, sporting criteria would continue to be at the forefront. That is why the negotiations are being followed far beyond Turkey.
What must happen before official confirmation
For Salah to become a Beşiktaş player, the parties must first agree on the final salary, bonuses, contract length and commercial rights. This is usually followed by a final legal review, a medical examination, the signing of documentation and registration with the relevant football authorities. Only an announcement by the club or the player's official team can remove the current uncertainty. The fact that reports mention the presence of a legal representative in Istanbul points to the possible seriousness of the discussions, but that claim has not been independently confirmed. Likewise, social media posts by individual members of the club's structures may raise expectations, but they are not a substitute for a formal announcement.
At present, the most precise statement is that Beşiktaş is showing concrete interest, that talks have been held according to several sources and that Salah's reduced financial demands are being discussed. However, it has not been confirmed that a binding agreement has been reached. The agent's message and the absence of an official club announcement leave other possibilities open. The next move could come quickly because the club's preparations for the new season have already begun, while a player without a contract wants to join his new team early enough for physical and tactical adaptation. Until that happens, the story of Mohamed Salah and Beşiktaş remains one of the biggest, but still unconfirmed, transfer topics of the summer of 2026.
Sources:
- Liverpool FC - official announcement about Salah's departure after the 2025/26 season and an overview of his achievements at the club (link)
- Foot Mercato - report on the alleged negotiations, initial demands and Beşiktaş's offer (link)
- Foot Mercato - subsequent report on an alleged agreement in principle, salary and contract length (link)
- A Spor - Turkish report on Beşiktaş and Mohamed Salah moving closer to an agreement (link)
- Beşiktaş JK - official club news and the status of reinforcement announcements as of July 18, 2026 (link)
- The Liverpool Offside - report on the reaction of agent Ramy Abbas Issa and his challenge to the claim that the agreement had been confirmed (link)
- The Guardian - analysis of interest from Saudi clubs and earlier warnings by Salah's agent about speculation (link)
- The Guardian - report from the Argentina-Egypt match in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup (link)