Salah-Besiktas agreement claim denied by club and agent

Reports linking Mohamed Salah with a move to Besiktas have descended into confusion, with the Turkish club and the player’s agent both denying an agreement.

Turkish journalist Yagiz Sabuncuoglu claimed the free agent had reached financial terms, only for Besiktas to dismiss the story as “entirely fabricated”.

The original claim was specific. Sabuncuoglu reported that Salah had agreed a package worth €10m a year plus €2m in bonuses, having lowered an initial €15m wage demand. He said negotiations continued over contract length and image rights.

Salah-Besiktas agreement claim denied by club and agent

Some European outlets lent the story weight. Foot Mercato’s Sacha Tavolieri and Santi Aouna both reported a verbal agreement on terms, with a one-year deal and the option of a second season mentioned.

Besiktas, however, issued a strongly worded rebuttal. “This individual has been openly misleading the public for a long time by circulating fabricated news about our club’s transfer processes,” the club said in a statement.

Kulübümüzden Açıklama

Gazeteci Yağız Sabuncuoğlu’nun dijital mecralardan kulübümüzün transfer süreçleri ve konu edilen transfer şartlarıyla alakalı yaptığı paylaşımlar kesinlikle hayal ürünüdür.

Söz konusu şahıs, uzun süredir kulübümüzün transfer süreçleriyle ilgili olarak masa… pic.twitter.com/6Y8QD0LGSF

— Beşiktaş JK (@Besiktas) July 17, 2026

Salah’s representative was equally dismissive. Ramy Abbas Issa, the forward’s sole footballing agent, wrote on X: “It is not our style to have discussions with clubs that Mohamed wouldn’t want to play for, just for the sake of noise. I personally do not know where Mohamed will play next season. What does that tell you?”

It is not our style to have discussions with clubs that Mohamed wouldn’t want to play for, just for the sake of noise.

— Ramy Abbas Issa (@RamyCol) July 17, 2026

Sabuncuoglu has stood by his reporting regardless. “My respect for Besiktas is endless, but I stand by my Salah story,” he responded. “The official signing hasn’t happened yet.”

A move would be a surprising step. Besiktas finished fourth in Turkey last season and have no Champions League football to offer, entering the Europa League at the second qualifying round.

Salah left Liverpool this summer after nine seasons, and is also said to have admirers in Saudi Arabia and MLS. For now, his next destination remains genuinely unclear.