«We’re waiting for the announcement,» exclaims Taha, a Beşiktaş supporter seated on the stadium steps in Istanbul this Saturday evening. Facing the Bosphorus, the young fan checks his phone for updates on Mohamed Salah (34), now a free agent and reportedly close to sealing a deal with the Turkish side. Local media suggest a one-year renewable contract worth €12 million, including bonuses.

«This could easily be the biggest transfer in club history—and Turkish football as a whole,» asserts Eren Tutel, Beşiktaş specialist and journalist for BirGün. «I can’t think of another signing that combines such sporting quality, global recognition, and commercial appeal.»

A struggling club seeks revival

In Istanbul, anticipation is palpable. A viral video shows a supporter waking from anesthesia, immediately asking if Salah has signed. Since their 2021 title, Beşiktaş fans have grown disheartened as the club slipped behind rivals Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe, and Trabzonspor, finishing fourth last season. The star’s arrival could reverse the tide.

Already, Beşiktaş has swooped for Leandro Trossard from Arsenal for €18 million. The Belgian winger (31), fresh off his Premier League triumph, was presented to 20,000 fans last Thursday, with supporters chanting Salah’s name. «Besiktas must build a balanced team around him—a balance it has lacked in recent years,» Tutel notes.

Ali, 32, draped in a black-and-white scarf, heads toward the club shop beneath the stadium. «I came to check the new season jerseys, but I’ll wait to buy Salah’s,» he says. Should the deal materialize, both the club store and airport will be flooded with fans eager to welcome the Egyptian phenomenon.