«We’re holding our breath for the announcement,» exclaims Taha, a Besiktas supporter seated on the stadium steps by the Bosphorus. The young fan scrolls through updates on Mohamed Salah (34), the free agent whose arrival could redefine Turkish football. Local reports suggest a one-year deal with renewal options, valued at €12 million plus bonuses.

Why Salah’s arrival would rewrite Turkish football history

«This could easily be the biggest transfer in Besiktas’ history—and perhaps in all of Turkish football,» asserts Eren Tutel, Besiktas specialist and BirGün journalist. «No other signing combines elite performance, global fame, and commercial appeal like Salah.» The Egyptian forward arrives with an unmatched trophy cabinet: three Premier League titles (2015 with Chelsea, 2020 and 2025 with Liverpool) and a Champions League crown (2019).

Salah’s star power: beyond the pitch

Caner Isbegendiren of Fanatik points out another dimension: «He’s Egypt’s most iconic athlete—a national ambassador.» Fans like Sahit compare his potential arrival to club legends Quaresma (154 matches, 2015-2019) and Osimhen’s stint at Galatasaray (2024), arguing Salah’s global résumé eclipses them all.

Besiktas’s crisis: can Salah reverse the decline?

Since their 2021 league title, Besiktas’s fortunes have plummeted. Last season, they finished fourth, trailing rivals Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe, and Trabzonspor. The club’s emblem—a soaring eagle—hasn’t taken flight in years. Yet hope is palpable. Just days ago, Besiktas signed Arsenal winger Leandro Trossard (€18 million) to bolster their attack. His presentation drew 20,000 fans chanting Salah’s name. «Signing Salah would signal Besiktas’s intent to rebuild around a world-class talent,» Tutel notes.

Ali, 32, clad in Besiktas’s signature black-and-white jersey, heads to the club shop beneath the stadium. «I’m here for the new season kit,» he says, «but I’ll wait to buy Salah’s.» If the deal materializes, expect a frenzy at the store—and the airport.