Mohamed Salah’s protracted free-agency saga is entering its final act. On Friday, his agent Ramy Abbas Issa broke weeks of public silence to declare that the Egyptian captain’s next club remains unknown but “we may know very soon”. Within hours, Turkish journalists reported that Salah’s lawyer had touched down in Istanbul, a move widely interpreted across the football media as the prelude to a contract with Beşiktaş. The developments cap a dizzying fortnight in which the 34-year-old has been courted by clubs on three continents, his leverage amplified by a trailblazing World Cup run that ended in the last 16 against Argentina.

Salah departed Liverpool at the end of last season after nine years, 442 appearances and 257 goals, leaving Anfield as a free agent. The summer window opened with Saudi Arabian suitors tabling what regional outlets described as “huge and lucrative” multi-year offers, while Major League Soccer’s San Diego FC, owned by Egyptian billionaire Mohamed Mansour, reportedly dangled a substantial salary plus an equity stake. In Europe, interest surfaced from Serie A — Roma and Juventus were mentioned — and from Chelsea, his former club. Yet the loudest noise has come from Turkey, where Beşiktaş, Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe all registered interest.

The momentum shifted decisively towards Beşiktaş this week. During the unveiling of new signing Leandro Trossard, thousands of supporters hijacked the ceremony with chants of “Ya Allah, bismillah, Mohamed Salah”, a plea that echoed across Turkish social media. Turkish transfer specialist Yağız Sabuncuoğlu then reported that Salah had initially sought €15 million a year but lowered his demands during a first meeting with club representatives. The arrival of his lawyer in Istanbul, confirmed by multiple outlets, suggests the legal scaffolding of a deal is being assembled. Abbas, for his part, stressed that neither he nor Salah would engage with clubs the player does not wish to join “just to create noise”, a remark that lends weight to the idea that Beşiktaş is a genuine preference.

Salah’s bargaining position was fortified by his performances at the 2026 World Cup. He dragged Egypt into the knockout rounds for the first time in their history, scoring against New Zealand to become the nation’s all-time leading World Cup scorer with three goals, and converting a Panenka penalty in a shootout victory over Australia. Despite carrying an injury, he created 16 chances across five matches — a tally that placed him joint-fourth in the tournament alongside Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé, according to data cited by Egyptian sports desks. The campaign ended in controversy, a narrow defeat to Argentina that prompted Egyptian accusations of refereeing bias, but Salah’s individual stock rose markedly.

With the MLS transfer window also open and San Diego FC pushing hard, the coming days will determine whether Salah opts for the Turkish Süper Lig, a late-career move to North America, or a return to the Gulf. Abbas’s statement that a decision is “very soon” and the physical presence of legal counsel in Istanbul suggest the wait is almost over. For Beşiktaş, landing a player of Salah’s global profile would represent a transformative coup; for Salah, it would open a new chapter in a career that has already redefined Egyptian football’s place on the world map.