Salah to Use World Cup to Choose Next Club, San Diego FC Leads MLS Interest

TL;DR: Mohamed Salah will weigh his next club during the World Cup, and San Diego FC is the leading MLS candidate.

Salah announced in March that he will leave Liverpool after nine seasons, a spell that produced a Premier League title, a Champions League trophy and nearly every major honor available to the club. The Egyptian forward, a four‑time Golden Boot winner and fourth‑place finisher in the 2025 Ballon d’Or, will become a free agent this summer following a mutual termination of his contract.

The summer’s World Cup will serve as a decision point. Salah will captain Egypt in Qatar and will travel with his family, using the tournament to evaluate lifestyle and commercial prospects across potential destinations. Reports indicate he could announce his choice within days of the competition’s start.

European clubs remain interested, but the most concrete offer comes from Turkish giants Fenerbahçe, which has tabled a €20 million per‑year contract. The figure rivals offers from the Saudi Pro League, long known for lucrative deals for veteran stars. Yet Salah appears equally drawn to the Major League Soccer (MLS) model, which promises a growing commercial platform and a lifestyle shift for his family.

San Diego FC has surfaced as the MLS front‑runner. The expansion club is owned by Egyptian‑British businessman Mohamed Mansour, who praised Salah as “one of the great players of today” and called any team that signs him “an asset.” Mansour’s public endorsement underscores the club’s ambition to secure a marquee signing that could boost ticket sales, sponsorships and the franchise’s profile.

If Salah chooses MLS, the move would mark a rare transition for a player of his caliber from Europe’s elite competition to the United States at his peak, rather than at the tail end of his career. It would also signal a shift in the league’s recruitment strategy, emphasizing competitive ambition alongside commercial growth.

The decision will force Salah to balance on‑field competition—remaining in Europe offers the highest level of play—with off‑field considerations such as brand expansion, family quality of life and long‑term financial security. His choice will likely influence how other top talent views MLS as a viable destination.

Watch for an official announcement during the World Cup, which could reshape the transfer market and set a new benchmark for MLS signings.