Taha, a lifelong Besiktas supporter, sat on the steps of the Vodafone Park stadium late Saturday evening, eyes glued to his phone. “We’re still waiting for the announcement,” he told me, his voice trembling with excitement. “Every few minutes, I refresh the news feeds just to see if anything has changed regarding Mohamed Salah.”

“This could be the biggest transfer in our club’s history—and possibly the entire Süper Lig,” declared Eren Tutel, a respected Besiktas analyst and columnist for the BirGün newspaper. “There’s no other player who combines world-class talent, global recognition, and commercial appeal like Salah does.”

Local reports suggest an agreement has been reached for a one-year deal with an option to extend, worth €12 million plus performance-based bonuses. The news has sent shockwaves through Istanbul, where football fans are already comparing Salah’s potential arrival to historic transfers like Quaresma’s time at Besiktas or Osimhen’s move to Galatasaray.

A club in crisis and a star player who could reverse fortunes

Since winning the Süper Lig title in 2021, Besiktas has struggled to keep pace with rivals Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe, and Trabzonspor. Last season ended with the Black Eagles finishing fourth—a distant fourth. The club’s downward spiral has left fans disillusioned, but the prospect of signing Salah could change everything.

Sahit, another die-hard supporter, argued that Salah’s potential move would surpass both Quaresma’s legendary tenure and Osimhen’s recent transfer to Galatasaray. “Salah isn’t just a player—he’s a global icon,” Sahit said. “Three-time Premier League winner, Champions League champion, and the pride of Egypt. His arrival would bring more than just sporting success; he’d become an ambassador for the club.”

Besiktas has already made one major signing this summer, securing Belgium international Leandro Trossard from Arsenal for €18 million. The 31-year-old winger, fresh off an English Premier League title, was unveiled to 20,000 cheering fans, who chanted Salah’s name in anticipation. “Besiktas needs to build a balanced squad around him,” Tutel noted. “That’s something the club has lacked in recent years.”

Ali, a 32-year-old fan wearing the club’s iconic black-and-white scarf, was heading toward the stadium shop. “I’m here to check out the new season’s jerseys,” he said, “but I’ll wait to buy Salah’s. If he joins, the shop—and even the airport—will be swarmed with fans eager to welcome him.”