Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool exit opens door for MLS bidding war as Besiktas deal collapses

Mohamed Salah is officially on the market, and the bidding war is already getting complicated. After reaching an agreement with Liverpool for early contract termination in late March 2026, the Egyptian forward has become the most sought-after free agent in global football, with MLS clubs lining up and at least one international suitor dramatically walking away.

Besiktas president Serdal Adali dropped the curtain on what had apparently been a verbal agreement with Salah, claiming the deal fell apart over agent commission demands of approximately 35%. Adali subsequently announced that the Turkish club will not pursue the player this summer.

The MLS courtship heats up

While the Besiktas saga was imploding, American clubs were circling. Inter Miami and San Diego FC have both emerged as potential destinations, with San Diego’s ownership publicly confirming their interest just days after news of Salah’s Liverpool exit broke.

MLS Commissioner Don Garber added fuel to the fire in early April 2026, commenting on the speculation surrounding Salah’s future and suggesting broader league interest.

Why the Besiktas deal matters

The collapse of the Besiktas negotiations is worth examining because it reveals the financial machinery behind transfers of this magnitude. A verbal agreement was reportedly in place before agent commissions became the dealbreaker. At approximately 35%, those fees would have represented a significant chunk of the total package, enough to make a club in the Turkish Super Lig blink.

Adali’s public announcement in July 2026 that Besiktas would walk away entirely wasn’t just a negotiating tactic. It read like a club president drawing a line in the sand about what his organization is willing to pay intermediaries.

What this means for the broader market

Salah’s departure from Liverpool reshapes the Premier League’s forward landscape. Liverpool will need to replace one of the most productive attackers in their history, a player whose tensions with club management were reportedly visible as far back as late 2025.

Salah’s next move is a data point in a larger trend. Salah brings a massive following across the Middle East and Africa, regions where MLS has minimal penetration today.

The wildcard remains price. If the Besiktas deal collapsed over 35% agent commissions, MLS suitors should expect similar demands.

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