Sporting Kansas City’s pursuit of Salah
Sporting Kansas City has emerged as a leading contender among MLS clubs interested in acquiring Mohamed Salah, according to sources familiar with the situation. The club is reportedly planning an ambitious summer transfer window. While a move to MLS for Salah is considered a longshot due to significant interest from the Saudi Pro League, and his preference to remain in Europe, he is reportedly open to considering an MLS transfer.
Salah’s departure from Liverpool was announced after a nine-year tenure with the Premier League club. Salah’s club future is a topic of discussion after Egypt, his national team, was eliminated from the World Cup following a round-of-16 loss to Lionel Messi‘s Argentina.
Multiple MLS clubs have shown interest in Salah, but Sporting Kansas City appears to be in a strong position should he decide to move across the Atlantic. The club’s new majority owner, Peter Mallouk, is the son of Egyptian immigrants, which may play a role in the club’s pursuit.
Other potential high-profile acquisitions
Sporting Kansas City is also reportedly targeting other high-value players this summer. The club aims to fulfill a commitment to increased spending and ambition as it transitions into a new era. Among the players being pursued are Toulouse winger Yann Gboho and Olympiacos winger Andre Luiz.
Discussions for both players are reportedly in the range of $18-20 million, which would place either deal among the most expensive in MLS history, pending final agreements. Negotiations for Luiz are said to be more advanced than those for Gboho. Luiz joined Olympiakos in January for a reported fee around $7 million and could move again for nearly triple that amount. He recorded seven goals and six assists in the first half of last season with Rio Ave FC in 1,501 minutes.
Gboho, a former France youth international, concluded his recent season with 10 goals and three assists in 35 appearances across all competitions. He declared in March his intention to represent Les Elephants but was not part of their World Cup roster.
Salah’s recent performance and future considerations
Salah’s 2025-26 season for Liverpool saw him having an incredibly disappointing campaign, in which he slipped in the pecking order at Anfield. This followed his 2024-25 season, where he led Liverpool to the title with 29 goals and 18 assists in 3,380 league minutes, marking what was described as his career-best league season.
Reports suggest Salah has made a decision regarding his future, with the possibility of staying in Europe now considered increasingly unlikely. Instead, the expectation is that he will move to either the Saudi Pro League or the United States. While Inter Miami and San Diego FC have been mentioned as potential MLS destinations, a move to the Saudi Pro League appears to be the most advanced option at present.
The Saudi Pro League has reportedly been planning for Salah’s arrival for years, viewing him as a key figure to enhance the league’s global profile. A deal in principle is understood to be in place with the league, although Salah has yet to decide which specific club he would join. Geography is reportedly a significant factor in Salah’s decision-making, with a preference for clubs located in the west of Saudi Arabia due to their proximity to his homeland.
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 working to develop the club’s infrastructure and reshape a roster that has not kept pace with the league in recent years. Rapha Wicky was appointed head coach this winter, and after a slow start, the team showed improved competitiveness leading up to the MLS World Cup break. The club currently has Designated Players.
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Source: nytimes.com
As News-GB.org's Sports Reporter, Eleanor Vance reports on tennis, cricket and athletics for readers across the country. She built her name on long-form athlete profiles. She holds a degree in Sport and Media from the University of Bath and completed an NCTJ diploma. Eleanor lives in Bath, where she swims competitively and follows British athletics. “A profile is only as good as the questions behind it.”