One of the brightest footballers of the modern era, Egyptian winger Mohamed Salah, has taken a significant step in his career. The 34-year-old striker, who became a free agent after his contract with English club Liverpool expired, has agreed on personal terms with Turkish giants Beşiktaş.

The information about the transfer was confirmed by Foot Mercato insider Santi Aoun, as cited by RBC-Ukraine. The deal, which is set to be one of the major transfer stories of the season, is expected to be officially finalized early next week. Once the legal formalities are settled, the world football star will travel to Istanbul for a medical examination.

Choosing Europe

After nine years spent at Anfield, Salah received numerous offers to continue his career. In particular, the forward was actively pursued by the wealthiest clubs in Saudi Arabia and representatives of the American MLS league. However, the Egyptian decided to stay in European football, choosing the Istanbul club, which will be able to sign him on a free transfer as his contract with the Merseyside side has expired.

A Legendary Legacy

Leaving England, Salah leaves behind a massive mark in Liverpool's history. Playing for the club since 2017, he became one of the best attacking players in the world. In total, Mohamed made 442 appearances for the Merseysiders in all competitions, scoring 257 goals. This achievement places him third on the club's all-time top scorers list, trailing only legends Ian Rush and Roger Hunt.

Alongside the 'Reds', Salah won an impressive collection of trophies:

  • Won the English Premier League twice;
  • Became the holder of the Champions League;
  • Won the FA Cup, the League Cup, and the FA Community Shield;
  • Won the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.

In his final season in the Premier League, the striker played 41 matches, scoring 12 goals and providing 10 assists. According to Transfermarkt, the market value of the free agent is estimated at 22 million euros.

Salah's arrival will be a significant boost for Beşiktaş, which has already shown activity in the transfer market, previously luring an Arsenal star for 20 million euros.