Mohamed Salah Beşiktaş transfer to boost Oh Hyeon-gyu in Turkish attack, Liverpool 2026

Key Points

• South Korean national team striker Oh Hyeon-gyu, 25, is poised to receive service from former Liverpool star Mohamed Salah in Beşiktaş’s attack, with a free‑agent move for Salah reported as close.
• French outlet Foot Mercato has exclusively reported that Mohamed Salah, 34, has reached an agreement to join Turkish giants Beşiktaş after leaving Liverpool at the end of last season.
• Foot Mercato states Salah has “almost made his decision” after deeply reflecting on his future following Egypt’s World Cup exit to Argentina, and is now on the verge of signing for Beşiktaş as a free agent.
• According to Foot Mercato, Salah’s proposed contract is a one‑year deal with an option for a further year, worth around 10 million euros annually plus 2 million euros in bonuses.
• Belgian journalist Sasha Tivolieri has reported that Salah has accepted the transfer to Beşiktaş, with agreement reached on the same one‑year contract structure and plans to complete medical tests and signing early next week.
• Turkish journalist Yağız Sabuncuoğlu has stated that Beşiktaş made an initial offer when Salah was seeking 15 million euros per year, but the player later lowered his salary demands, and his lawyer has already arrived in Istanbul.
• Sabuncuoğlu reports Beşiktaş have reached agreement with Salah on financial terms and are now negotiating contract duration and image rights, with the transfer described as “getting closer” though not yet officially signed.
• Salah, nicknamed “The Pharaoh”, left Liverpool at the end of last season and had been linked with Saudi Arabian clubs and MLS side Sporting Kansas City before the Turkish Süper Lig emerged as his most likely destination.
• Beşiktaş are undergoing a major rebuild after finishing fourth in the Süper Lig and reaching the semi‑finals of the Türkiye Kupası last season, with Sergen Yalçın departing and Vincenzo Italiano appointed as head coach.
• The Istanbul club have already secured the signing of Premier League winger Leandro Trossard to strengthen their flanks, and believe adding Salah would give them one of the strongest attacking trios in Turkey.
• Oh Hyeon-gyu joined Beşiktaş in February for around 14 million euros and has quickly become a starter, scoring 8 goals and providing 2 assists in 16 matches for the club.
• Including his spell at Genk earlier in the season, Oh has 18 goals and 5 assists in 48 matches, marking a career‑high campaign and underlining his emergence as a key international‑level forward.
• Oh recently proved his ability on the global stage with a decisive goal for South Korea against Czechia at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, coming off the bench to score the winner in a 2‑1 victory.
• If the deal is completed, Beşiktaş could field a front line of Leandro Trossard, Oh Hyeon-gyu and Mohamed Salah, combining Premier League‑tested wingers with a rising South Korean centre‑forward.
• Negotiations over image rights and contract length mean the transfer is not yet official, but multiple European and Turkish sources stress that Salah’s move to Beşiktaş is now in its final stages.

Liverpool (Liverpool standard) July 18, 2026 – As reported by the French outlet Foot Mercato, Salah, 34, has reached an agreement to sign for Beşiktaş as a free agent after his Liverpool contract expired at the end of last season. Foot Mercato’s report on 18 July (Korean time) stated that Salah “has almost made his decision” after taking several days to carefully consider his next step following Egypt’s painful World Cup exit against Argentina. According to the same report, discussions intensified once Egypt, who had been 2–0 up against Argentina until the 78th minute, suffered a 3–2 comeback defeat, bringing Salah’s international summer to a disappointing close and sharpening the focus on his club future.

As reported by Foot Mercato, Beşiktaş moved decisively to capitalise on Salah’s free‑agent status, negotiating a short‑term yet lucrative deal that reflects both his age and his enduring global profile. The outlet explained that, while Saudi Pro League clubs and MLS side Sporting Kansas City had shown interest earlier in the summer, the Turkish Süper Lig – and Beşiktaş in particular – have now emerged as the leading destination. This development places Salah, one of the most prolific forwards in European football over the past decade, on the brink of an unexpected move to Istanbul.

What are the reported contract terms and financial details of Mohamed Salah’s proposed move to Beşiktaş?

Foot Mercato has reported that Salah, born in 1992, has agreed in principle to a one‑year contract with Beşiktaş, including an option to extend for a further year. As reported by their journalists, the financial package would see Salah earn approximately 10 million euros per year (around 17 billion Korean won), supplemented by around 2 million euros in performance‑related bonuses (roughly 3.4 billion Korean won). This structure offers Beşiktaş both flexibility and protection, allowing the club to reassess after the first season while still providing Salah with high‑level earnings befitting his status as a former Liverpool and Premier League star.

The salary figures and bonus structure represent a compromise from Salah’s initial expectations, according to reporting from Turkey. Turkish journalist Yağız Sabuncuoğlu has stated that, during the opening round of negotiations, Salah’s camp sought an annual salary of about 15 million euros (roughly 25.6 billion Korean won). As Sabuncuoğlu reported, those demands were later reduced as talks progressed, reflecting a mutual desire to finalise the deal and ensuring that Beşiktaş could remain within a sustainable financial framework while still securing one of the most high‑profile signings in the club’s history.

How have other European and Turkish journalists corroborated Salah’s Beşiktaş transfer talks?

Belgian journalist Sasha Tivolieri has reinforced Foot Mercato’s reporting, stating that Salah has accepted the transfer to Beşiktaş and that the parties have reached agreement on the key contractual elements. As reported by Tivolieri, the arrangement centres on a one‑year deal with an option for a second season, mirroring Foot Mercato’s description of the proposed contract. Tivolieri further indicated that Beşiktaş intend to move quickly, aiming to complete Salah’s medical examinations and the formal signing of documents by early next week, signalling how close the club believes it is to securing the transfer.

From Turkey, Yağız Sabuncuoğlu has provided additional detail on the negotiation process from the Beşiktaş side. As Sabuncuoğlu reported, Beşiktaş were the first club to table a concrete offer to Salah once he became a free agent. He has stated that the player’s lawyer has already arrived in Istanbul, a key indicator that legal and image‑rights aspects of the contract are being handled on the ground in Turkey rather than remotely. According to Sabuncuoğlu’s reporting, Beşiktaş and Salah have agreed financial terms, and are now primarily focused on fine‑tuning the contract duration and resolving image‑rights arrangements, suggesting the transfer is in its final stages but not yet officially complete.

Why is Mohamed Salah seeking a new challenge after leaving Liverpool and Egypt’s World Cup campaign?

Salah’s departure from Liverpool at the end of last season, following a distinguished spell in which he became one of the Premier League’s most prolific forwards, left him seeking a new club capable of offering both competitive football and a meaningful role in attack. Foot Mercato’s reporting emphasised that attention to his future intensified after Egypt’s World Cup campaign ended with a late defeat to Argentina, where Egypt had led 2–0 before conceding three goals after the 78th minute to lose 3–2. The French outlet explained that, in the days following that exit, Salah took time to “deeply contemplate his future”, weighing offers and considering how best to prolong his career at the highest possible level.

As a player nicknamed “The Pharaoh” and widely seen as Egypt’s talisman, Salah’s international disappointment has coincided with a key juncture in his club career. Earlier in the summer, various reports linked him with Saudi Arabian clubs and with MLS team Sporting Kansas City, reflecting growing interest from leagues outside Europe. However, the latest information presented by Foot Mercato, Tivolieri and Sabuncuoğlu now points towards the Turkish Süper Lig as Salah’s most likely destination, with Beşiktaş offering European competition via the UEFA Europa League and a central attacking role that may have appealed more than moves to non‑European leagues.

How are Beşiktaş rebuilding their squad and attack around Vincenzo Italiano, Leandro Trossard and Oh Hyeon-gyu?

Beşiktaş are reported to be undergoing a significant rebuild following a season in which they finished fourth in the Süper Lig and reached the semi‑finals of the Türkiye Kupası, results that fell short of expectations at a club accustomed to challenging for titles. In the aftermath of that campaign, head coach Sergen Yalçın stepped down, taking responsibility for the underperformance. As reported by Foot Mercato and other outlets, the Istanbul club responded by appointing Italian coach Vincenzo Italiano, tasking him with reshaping the squad and returning Beşiktaş to the forefront of Turkish football and European competition.

Within this wider rebuild, Beşiktaş have already moved to strengthen their attacking options by signing winger Leandro Trossard, who had been playing for the defending Premier League champions. As reported in the French coverage, Trossard’s arrival is intended to provide creativity and width on the flanks, complementing the club’s existing forwards. The prospect of adding Salah to this mix would give Vincenzo Italiano two experienced, Premier League‑tested wide players operating either side of a central striker, significantly enhancing Beşiktaş’s ability to threaten defences domestically and in the Europa League.

How has Oh Hyeon-gyu performed for Beşiktaş and on the international stage ahead of a potential partnership with Salah?

Oh Hyeon-gyu’s emergence has been one of the standout developments in Beşiktaş’s recent recruitment strategy. The South Korean striker joined the club in February for a reported transfer fee of around 14 million euros (approximately 23.9 billion Korean won), having previously played for Genk. According to the same reporting, Oh adapted immediately to life in Istanbul, securing a starting role without a transition period and making an impact with attacking returns. Since his arrival at Beşiktaş, he has scored 8 goals and provided 2 assists in 16 matches, underlining his importance as a focal point in Italiano’s evolving system.

Including his performances for Genk earlier in the season, Oh has totalled 18 goals and 5 assists across 48 matches, marking what sources describe as a “career high” campaign and signalling his progress from promising forward to established international‑level striker. On the global stage, Oh’s profile advanced further at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North and Central America. As reported by Korean and international media, he came off the bench in South Korea’s Group A opener against Czechia at Guadalajara Stadium in Mexico and scored the decisive goal in a 2–1 comeback victory.

In that match, South Korea, coached by Hong Myung-bo, had fallen behind to Ladislav Krejčí before Hwang In-beom equalised, setting the stage for Oh’s late winner. Reports from Korean and international outlets detail how Oh entered as a substitute for Son Heung-min and, around 10–11 minutes later, found space in the penalty area to meet a low cross from Hwang In-beom before finishing left‑footed to secure the win. Media in Korea and Japan have highlighted that he achieved this despite suffering from a 38°C fever on the day of the match, with Oh himself crediting the medical staff for enabling him to play.

Could Beşiktaş field a front three of Trossard, Oh Hyeon-gyu and Mohamed Salah, and what might it mean tactically?

The possibility of a front trio composed of Leandro Trossard, Oh Hyeon-gyu and Mohamed Salah has been widely discussed in coverage of Beşiktaş’s transfer window. As reported by Foot Mercato, the club believes that adding Salah to a squad already reinforced by Trossard would allow them to construct “the best attacking lineup in Turkey”, bringing together Premier League‑experienced wide forwards on either side of a dynamic central striker. In such a set‑up, Trossard and Salah could provide creativity, dribbling and crossing quality from the flanks, while Oh would act as the primary goal threat through the middle, benefiting from improved service.

From a tactical perspective, sources suggest that Oh’s role could evolve further as he combines his movement and finishing with the experience and game intelligence of Salah and Trossard. The expectation is that with two high‑level wingers supplying him – both familiar with the pace and intensity of top European football – Oh’s opportunities in the penalty area would increase, potentially raising his goal tally and further boosting his confidence following his World Cup exploits. However, as stressed across the reporting, this scenario depends on Beşiktaş successfully completing Salah’s medical and contract signing, with negotiations over image rights and exact contract duration still ongoing at the time of writing.

Background of Mohamed Salah’s Beşiktaş move and Oh Hyeon-gyu’s rise

Salah’s prospective move to Beşiktaş comes at a point when both player and club are seeking fresh momentum. After a highly decorated spell at Liverpool, Salah departed as a free agent, opening the door to interest from multiple leagues, including Saudi Arabia and MLS, before Beşiktaş emerged as the frontrunner through sustained negotiations reported by Foot Mercato, Sasha Tivolieri and Yağız Sabuncuoğlu. The financial and contractual compromise reached a one‑year deal with an option, at 10 million euros plus bonuses – reflects Beşiktaş’s ambition to add a global star while managing risk and salary commitments.

For Oh Hyeon-gyu, the situation represents the latest step in a rapid ascent from domestic football in Korea to European competition and the World Cup stage. His scoring record for Genk and Beşiktaş, combined with his decisive goal against Czechia in Guadalajara, have confirmed his capability to perform under pressure and against international opposition. The potential partnership with Salah therefore sits at the intersection of a veteran forward seeking a new challenge and a younger striker entering his peak years, with Beşiktaş aiming to harness both trajectories in their pursuit of success in the Süper Lig and Europa League.

Prediction: How could this development affect Beşiktaş supporters, South Korean fans and the wider Turkish Süper Lig audience?

If Mohamed Salah’s transfer to Beşiktaş is completed, the impact on Beşiktaş supporters is likely to be substantial, as fans would see one of world football’s most recognisable forwards line up in their colours and potentially transform the team’s attacking style. The combination of Salah, Trossard and Oh Hyeon-gyu could raise expectations among the Beşiktaş fan base for a stronger title challenge and deeper European runs, while also generating increased match‑day interest, merchandise sales and media attention focused on Istanbul.

For South Korean supporters, the prospect of Oh receiving crosses and passes from Salah and Trossard offers a tangible sign of their striker’s progression, likely increasing interest in the Turkish Süper Lig and in Beşiktaş’s matches as they follow his development after his World Cup heroics. Within the wider Süper Lig audience, Salah’s arrival would be expected to raise the league’s international profile, attracting more coverage from broadcasters and digital platforms and potentially encouraging other clubs to pursue high‑profile signings in response. As negotiations continue over image rights and contract details, these potential effects remain contingent on the transfer being finalised, but the reporting to date suggests that Beşiktaş, their supporters and observers across Turkey and South Korea are already preparing for a significant shift in the club’s attacking landscape.