Demirbay: Salah ‘not the first star’ to choose Turkish Super Lig as Besiktas wait on decision

Kerem Demirbay believes Mohamed Salah is following a well-trodden path by moving to Turkey, insisting the Egyptian would not be the first global star to join the Super Lig as Besiktas wait for his final decision.

The Kasımpasa midfielder was speaking as Salah edges closer to a move to Besiktas, with the Istanbul club preparing contracts and the final call now resting with the former Liverpool forward.

Besiktas president Serdal Adalı has confirmed that the transfer hinges on Salah, saying the “final decision” over whether to join the club now lies with the player himself.

According to Turkish newspaper Fanatik, Salah’s agent Ramy Abbas has agreed to reduce his commission, previously set at 35% of the player’s contract – a key stumbling block in negotiations with Besiktas. The report adds that the club are drawing up the paperwork and are only waiting to finalise the adjusted commission structure before a deal can be completed.

Demirbay: Stars have been coming ‘for a long time’

Demirbay, who joined Kasımpasa this summer, played down the idea that Salah’s possible arrival would represent a new era for the Turkish top flight, while stressing his respect for the Egypt captain.

Speaking to Fanatik, the 33-year-old said: “Joining stars to the Turkish league? I have great respect for Salah, and I don’t compare between us, but many stars have joined the league before, like Drogba and Sneijder, and we also have our own stars like Emre Belozoglu and Arda Turan.”

He added: “I don’t think this started recently, it has existed for a long time, and this is good for the league.”

The midfielder’s comments reference a period when high-profile names such as Didier Drogba and Wesley Sneijder signed for Galatasaray, while Turkey internationals Emre Belozoglu and Arda Turan became leading figures in the domestic game.

Demirbay’s route back to Istanbul

Demirbay, born in Germany to Turkish parents, represented Turkey at youth level before switching to Germany and earning two senior caps.

He returned to the Turkish Super Lig in 2023 with Galatasaray, later playing for Eyupspor last season, and has now signed for Istanbul-based Kasımpasa.

Earlier in his career, the midfielder featured for Borussia Dortmund, Hamburg, Hoffenheim and Bayer Leverkusen in Germany, establishing himself in the Bundesliga before opting for a move to Turkey.

Political and European spotlight on Salah move

Salah’s potential transfer to Besiktas has attracted attention beyond sport. Reports in Turkey state that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is following developments closely.

Besiktas, nicknamed the Black Eagles, strengthened their European position on Thursday by beating Danish side Midtjylland 1-0 in the first leg of their Europa League qualifying play-off.

Salah is currently a free agent after bringing his nine-year spell at Liverpool to an end at the close of last season. He left Anfield having become one of the club’s modern greats, winning multiple major honours and establishing himself as one of the Premier League’s leading forwards.

The forward has also recently returned to international duty with Egypt following the 2026 World Cup, where the Pharaohs were knocked out in the last 16 by Argentina.

Previous reports have outlined Salah’s desire to experience the Turkish Super Lig at this stage of his career, with Istanbul viewed as an attractive destination both competitively and culturally.

For now, though, Besiktas, the Turkish football authorities and a wider global audience remain poised for Salah’s decision – one which, according to Demirbay, would continue rather than begin a long-running trend of star names choosing Turkey.