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This content was machine-translated from the French version.
Having been a free agent since leaving Liverpool, Mohamed Salah is at the centre of an increasingly fierce battle between suitors. According to exclusive reports from Africafoot, Fenerbahçe are said to have gained a slight edge over their rivals in the race to sign the 34-year-old Egyptian striker. This move looks set to be a major coup for the Istanbul-based club, which is determined to make a big splash in the summer transfer window.
The situation is far from straightforward. Saudi Arabia, via Al Hilal and Al Ittihad, has never made a secret of its interest in the Egyptian star. But it is above all the entry of MLS side Sporting Kansas City that adds an unexpected twist to this saga. On 10 July, The Athletic revealed that the American club had positioned itself as the most serious MLS contender, as part of an ambitious rebuilding project spearheaded by its new management.
Saudi Arabia, via Al Hilal and Al Ittihad, has never made a secret of its interest in the Egyptian star.
The Turkish lead-up gains momentum
Africafoot, which has been following the Salah story for months, published two articles within 48 hours detailing the progress of negotiations with Fenerbahçe. The Istanbul-based club, which has already made a big splash by signing Mason Greenwood, is looking to build a European-calibre attacking duo. According to the Turkish media outlet A Spor, Salah’s agent is reported to have met with Fenerbahçe officials on two occasions in recent days.
The Egyptian, who spent eight seasons at Liverpool scoring over 200 goals and winning every major trophy, is in no hurry. At 34, he can still aim for one last big contract in a competitive league. Turkey offers the advantage of a high standard of play without the sporting exile that a move to Saudi Arabia would represent.
Kansas City, the underdog with big dreams
On the other side of the Atlantic, Sporting Kansas City has plenty to offer. The MLS club has seen its resources boosted since its change of ownership and is looking for a star player to embody its new project. Tom Bogert and Paul Tenorio, journalists at The Athletic, reported on the American club’s interest, a story picked up by the Sports Business Journal three days later. Kansas City’s management sees Salah as the ideal symbol of a franchise determined to regain the upper hand in a league still dominated by clubs from California and New York.
What the timeline suggests
Africafoot has published two separate articles on the subject within 48 hours, a sign that the matter is progressing rapidly, even though no formal offer has been leaked. Fenerbahçe, for their part, are confident that the deal can be finalised before the end of August. Salah, meanwhile, has remained publicly silent and has not posted anything on his social media since announcing his departure from Liverpool. The final decision will likely hinge on a choice between European sporting ambition, the comforts of life in the US and the allure of the Middle East – although, according to sources cross-checked by Africafoot, The Athletic and Sports Business Journal, Saudi clubs have not yet tabled a concrete offer.
A choice that goes beyond the sporting arena
Whichever club secures his signature, Salah’s transfer will remain one of the major storylines of summer 2026. For Fenerbahçe, it would bolster a Süper Lig still seeking to make its mark on the European stage. For Kansas City, it would give the MLS a global showcase at a time when the league is seeking to accelerate its development. For the Egyptian, it is an opportunity to embark on the final great adventure of a career that has already won everything at Liverpool.
