Besiktas’ plans to sign Liverpool legend Mohamed Salah have ground to a halt. The Turkish club’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Onder Ozen, confirmed the deal has been “shelved” due to irreconcilable financial disagreements.
Numerous reputable sources previously reported that Salah was ready to make the move to Besiktas. However, in the latest press conference, Mr. Ozen revealed that negotiations have been deadlocked since July 21.
“We contacted Salah and proposed a specific financial model. He is a global star, an exemplary athlete,” Mr. Ozen shared.
“We met with Salah’s camp three times. Everything went very smoothly until we delved into the actual numbers. Since July 21, new demands from the player’s representative have pushed negotiations into a dead end. I believe a respectable person like Salah probably isn’t fully aware of these difficult demands from his agent.”
Currently, Mohamed Salah is a free agent after reaching an agreement to terminate his contract a year early with Liverpool. After leading the Egypt national team to the round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup, the 34-year-old striker only recently began considering options for his future. Although Besiktas is desperate to secure his signature, the club’s board affirms they will not increase their financial package further.
Mr. Ozen emphasized: “Protecting Besiktas’ core values is the top priority. Maintaining the financial stability of the club is more important than owning an expensive star. The file on Salah has now been shelved. Besiktas will not make any further offers. If they do not accept the current conditions, we will simply have to walk away.”
