«The news could come any day», exclaims Taha, a lifelong Besiktas supporter seated on the stadium steps overlooking the Bosphorus. His eyes glued to his phone, he follows every update on Mohamed Salah (34), the Egyptian forward now a free agent. Local reports suggest a one-year renewable deal worth €12 million, including performance bonuses, is in the final stages.

«This would be the biggest transfer in club history and even Turkish football, declares Eren Tutel, Besiktas specialist and BirGün correspondent. No signing combines sporting excellence, global fame, and commercial appeal like Salah. It’s a game-changer.»

Besiktas in crisis: can Salah revive the ailing eagle?

Since winning the 2021 title, Besiktas has fallen behind rivals Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe, and Trabzonspor, finishing fourth last season. The club’s morale is at its lowest, but Salah’s arrival could spark a revival. «The team needs a centerpiece like him to restore balance after years of instability», adds Tutel.

Supporters like Sahit view Salah’s potential arrival as superior to past legends like Quaresma (154 matches between 2015-2019) or Osimhen’s move to Galatasaray in 2024. «He brings unmatched trophies: three Premier League titles (2015 with Chelsea, 2020 and 2025 with Liverpool) and a Champions League crown in 2019», notes Caner Isbegendiren of Fanatik. «Plus, he’s Egypt’s most beloved athlete—a national ambassador.»

The club has already made waves by signing Leandro Trossard from Arsenal for €18 million, a move greeted by 20,000 fans chanting Salah’s name. His arrival could attract further top-tier talent, reshaping Besiktas’s future.

Ali, 32, wearing the team’s iconic black-and-white jersey, stops by the stadium shop. «I’m here for the new season kits but will wait for Salah’s number», he says. If the deal is confirmed, the shop—and the airport—will be flooded with fans eager to witness history.