The truth behind Mohamed Salah’s links to Besiktas. Fabrizio Romano and agent Ramy Abbas clarify the Egyptian King’s next move after leaving Liverpool.
The long, winding road toward Mohamed Salah’s post-Anfield future has taken yet another dramatic twist. Just months after both the player and Liverpool Football Club confirmed that the legendary forward would depart Merseyside this summer on a free transfer, the race for his signature has erupted into a fascinating battle of public denials, backroom offers, and conflicting reports.
The latest storm centers on a sensational claim from Turkey, suggesting a deal was already done a claim that has forced swift clarification from those closest to the player, the club in question, and transfer market insiders.
From Premier League champion to a turbulent farewell
It is still jarring for many Kopites to digest how rapidly this era-defining relationship reached its conclusion. Only a year ago, Salah was the undisputed talisman of a triumphant 2024/25 campaign, firing Liverpool to a historic Premier League title under circumstances that felt like a fairytale.
In the euphoric aftermath of that success, the Egyptian King penned a lucrative two-year contract extension, seemingly cementing his status as the cornerstone of the club’s immediate future.
However, football moves remarkably fast. The subsequent 2025/26 campaign proved to be immensely difficult for everyone involved at Anfield. Salah’s form, usually so relentlessly consistent, dropped off a cliff.
As the team struggled to find its rhythm, the veteran forward cut a frustrated figure, and by the spring, a mutual consensus had been reached: an exit this summer on a free transfer was the correct, albeit bittersweet, move for all parties.
The bombshell and the €10m agreement
Despite his recent dip in form, a player of Salah’s generational pedigree was never going to be short of suitors. Interest has arrived from virtually every corner of the globe. While the Saudi Pro League has long been viewed as being in pole position to land him, and Major League Soccer (MLS) remains a deeply serious option for his family, a new contender suddenly blindsided the market on Friday evening.
French outlet Foot Mercato, via journalist Santi Aouna, broke the news that Turkish giants Besiktas had leaped to the front of the queue, alleging that a concrete verbal agreement had already been struck.
???????? #SüperLig |
?? Verbal agreement reached with Mohamed Salah to join Besiktas on a free transfer.
? Salary worth around €10m per year + €2m bonuses.
??One-year contract with an option for an additional year.https://t.co/iCIHesMKgW pic.twitter.com/BbR2y5P0bd
— Santi Aouna (@Santi_J_FM) July 17, 2026
Aouna reported:“Verbal agreement reached with Mohamed Salah to join Besiktas on a free transfer. Salary worth around €10m per year + €2m bonuses.”
The figures and the certainty of the report sent shockwaves through European football, suggesting Salah was ready to trade the bright lights of Riyadh or Los Angeles for the intimidating atmosphere of the Süper Lig.
While Besiktas themselves took the unusual step of releasing an official club statement to play down the mounting speculation, the reality behind the scenes is far more nuanced. According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the Turkish outfit’s public denial is a matter of strategic caution rather than a lack of interest.
Kulübümüzden Aç?klama
Gazeteci Ya??z Sabuncuo?lu’nun dijital mecralardan kulübümüzün transfer süreçleri ve konu edilen transfer ?artlar?yla alakal? yapt??? payla??mlar kesinlikle hayal ürünüdür.
Söz konusu ?ah?s, uzun süredir kulübümüzün transfer süreçleriyle ilgili olarak masa… pic.twitter.com/6Y8QD0LGSF
— Be?ikta? JK (@Besiktas) July 17, 2026
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano revealed that Besiktas have indeed thrown their hat into the ring with a formal contract proposal, but are keeping their cards close to their chest because the Egyptian has not yet given them the green light.
“Why did Be?ikta? deny the rumors with an official statement? Because Salah’s deal hasn’t been completed yet. Before an agreement is finalized, clubs must exercise caution—completely understandable. Be?ikta? is indeed pursuing Salah’s transfer, and they did make an offer.
“However, we must await an official agreement before confirmation. We’re waiting for the next steps. Salah has also received offers from MLS and Saudi clubs, so Be?ikta? is maintaining discretion until reaching a comprehensive agreement.”
With lucrative proposals on the table from Istanbul, Saudi Arabia, and North America, the final chapter of Mohamed Salah’s elite career remains unwritten. What is certain, however, is that a conclusion to this transfer saga is expected imminently.