Salah’s potential move to MLS
Sporting Kansas City has reportedly emerged as a primary suitor for Mohamed Salah within Major League Soccer, as the club pursues an ambitious summer transfer strategy. While a move to MLS is considered a longshot given significant interest from the Saudi Pro League, Salah is reportedly open to the idea, even though he is understood to prefer remaining in European football. His club future is a current focus after Egypt, with Salah, was eliminated from the World Cup following a round-of-16 loss to Lionel Messi’s Argentina.
Salah previously announced his departure from Liverpool after a notable period with the Premier League club. Multiple MLS clubs have shown interest in the Egyptian star, but Sporting Kansas City is currently positioned as the leading contender if he decides to move across the Atlantic. The club’s new majority owner, Peter Mallouk, is the son of Egyptian immigrants.
Reports suggest that Salah has made a decision regarding staying in Europe, with this possibility now deemed increasingly unlikely. Instead, the expectation is that Salah will move to either the Saudi Pro League or the United States. While a move to the Saudi Pro League appears to be the most advanced option, with a deal in principle reportedly in place with the league, Inter Miami and San Diego FC have also been mentioned as potential MLS destinations.
Sporting KC’s broader transfer ambitions
Sporting Kansas City‘s pursuit of Salah is part of a wider effort to bring in high-profile players this summer. The team aims to fulfill a commitment to increased spending and ambition as it transitions into a new phase. The club is also working on potential deals for Toulouse winger Yann Gboho and Olympiacos winger Andre Luiz. Initial reports from a Greek outlet, later confirmed by sources, indicate that the MLS club is in discussions for the left-footed Brazilian.
Either of these potential deals, if finalized, could be among the most expensive transfer fees in the league’s history, with discussions reportedly in the range of $18-20 million. Negotiations for Luiz are reportedly more advanced than those for Gboho. Gboho, a former France youth international, recently concluded a season with 10 goals and three assists in 35 appearances across all competitions. Born in Ivory Coast, Gboho expressed a desire in March to represent Les Elephants but was not part of their World Cup roster.
Luiz, who joined Olympiakos in January for a reported fee around $7 million, could move again for nearly triple that amount. The Flamengo academy product recorded seven goals and six assists in the first half of last season with Rio Ave FC in Portugal, marking his best performance stretch.
Salah’s recent performance and club context
Salah‘s 2025-26 season for Liverpool saw him score seven goals and provide seven assists in 2,150 Premier League minutes. This followed his 2024-25 season, where he led Liverpool to the title with 29 goals and 18 assists in 3,380 league minutes. His final year at Anfield coincided with a reported breakdown in his relationship with former head coach Arne Slot, leading to limited game time.
Sporting Kansas City is currently in a transitional season, marking the first in a new era after the departure of former chief soccer officer and head coach Peter Vermes and a change in majority ownership. New chief soccer officer David Lee is focused on developing the sporting infrastructure and rebuilding a roster that has not kept pace with the league in recent years. Rapha Wicky was appointed head coach this winter, and after a challenging start, the team showed improved competitiveness in the matches leading up to the MLS World Cup break. SKC currently occupies the bottom position in the Western Conference with 11 points after 14 matches. The club currently has two Designated Players, Dejan Joveljic and Manu Garcia, and appears intent on adding a third this summer.
Liverpool is also in the process of identifying replacements for Salah, with reports indicating that their top target, Yan Diomande, intends to join Paris Saint-Germain. Meanwhile, Salah‘s decision-making process is reportedly influenced by geography, with a preference for clubs located in the west of Saudi Arabia due to their proximity to his homeland.
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Source: nytimes.com
Lucy Ashby is a Sports Reporter at NewsGB. She reported on the county circuit and Team GB. She focuses on tennis, cricket and athletics and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. She holds a degree in Sport and Media from Durham University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Durham, she plays club cricket and follows distance running. “The best sport reporting starts by listening.”
