Mohamed Salah is close to joining Besiktas on a short-term deal after reaching agreement on personal terms with the Turkish club, according to reports in Europe.
The Egypt forward, who has just brought an end to a nine-year spell at Liverpool, is understood to be on the verge of signing a one-year contract with Besiktas worth around €12m (£10.1m) per season.
Italian journalist Nicolo Schira reports that Salah and his representative have settled all contractual details with the Istanbul side, leaving only final formalities before the transfer can be confirmed.
The proposed agreement is said to include an option to extend for a further season, which would keep Salah at the club until the summer of 2028 if triggered.
Italiano’s role and final steps
Schira claims that Italian coach Vincenzo Italiano has been a key figure in persuading Salah to join Besiktas, convincing the 32-year-old of the club’s sporting project and ambitions.
The Besiktas hierarchy are now reported to be working on what have been described as the “last details” of the deal before making an official announcement, with expectations that the move could be finalised in the coming days.
No fee or agreement between clubs is mentioned in the reports, which focus solely on Salah’s personal terms and the structure of the proposed contract.
Liverpool chapter closes
Salah recently ended a hugely successful era at Liverpool, where he spent nine seasons at Anfield and established himself as one of the most influential players in the club’s modern history.
During his time with the Premier League side, he won every major domestic and European trophy available to him at club level and set a series of records, while also collecting multiple individual awards.
His performances and consistency made him one of Liverpool’s greatest players, with his goal-scoring feats and decisive contributions in major competitions central to the club’s return to the top of English and European football.
Saudi interest overtaken
In recent months, several clubs from the Saudi Pro League’s Roshn Saudi League had shown strong interest in signing Salah, offering lucrative financial packages to tempt him away from Europe.
However, the latest reports indicate that a move to Turkey has now become the most likely outcome, with Salah said to favour continuing his career in European football.
That preference is understood to have strengthened Besiktas’ position despite the substantial offers believed to have come from Saudi Arabia.
No official comment has yet been made by Besiktas, Liverpool or Salah’s camp regarding the reported agreement.
