«We’re waiting for the announcement,» shouts Taha, a Besiktas fan, sitting on the steps of the club’s stadium in Istanbul this Saturday evening. Overlooking the Bosphorus, the young supporter keeps refreshing his phone, searching for updates on Mohamed Salah (34), the free agent whose potential move to Besiktas has sent shockwaves through Turkish football. According to local reports, a one-year deal worth €12 million, with performance bonuses, has been agreed upon in principle.
A transfer that could rewrite club and league history
Eren Tutel, a seasoned Besiktas analyst and journalist, emphasizes the magnitude of such a signing: «This could easily be the biggest transfer in the club’s history—and possibly in the entire Turkish Super Lig. I can’t think of any other player who combines global star power, on-field quality, and commercial appeal like Salah does.»
Sahit, another fan interviewed outside the stadium, compares the potential arrival of the Egyptian star to past legends like Quaresma, who dazzled at Besiktas between 2015 and 2019, and Victor Osimhen’s move to Galatasaray in 2024. «Salah’s pedigree is unmatched,» he says. «Three Premier League titles—two with Liverpool, one with Chelsea—and a Champions League crown in 2019. Plus, he’s a national icon in Egypt, a living ambassador for his country.»
Besiktas in crisis: can Salah reverse the tide?
Since winning the league in 2021, Besiktas has struggled to keep pace with rivals Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe, and Trabzonspor, finishing fourth last season. The club’s morale is at an all-time low, with fans desperate for a turning point. A fan, just out of surgery, was filmed checking his phone the moment he woke up, asking if Salah had signed. The excitement is palpable—and with good reason.
Besiktas has already begun reshaping its squad, securing Belgian winger Leandro Trossard from Arsenal for €18 million. The 31-year-old, a recent English champion, was introduced to 20,000 supporters last Thursday. The chants of «Salah! Salah!» echoed through the stadium, signaling the level of anticipation. As Tutel points out, «Besiktas needs to build a balanced team around him—something it has lacked in recent years.»
Ali, 32, wearing a black-and-white Besiktas scarf, heads toward the club store beneath the stadium. «I came to check out the new season jerseys, but I’ll wait to buy Salah’s,» he says. Should the deal go through, both the stadium shop and Istanbul Airport will be swarmed by supporters eager to welcome the Egyptian maestro.