The MLS is making a strong play for Mohamed Salah, but where he ends up is still anyone’s guess.
With the imminent departure of the third-highest scorer in Liverpool’s history, speculation has swirled around the Egyptian’s next destination. The biggest noise came from a massive offer out of the Arab football market, though the forward – still a member of the Reds – has also been linked to San Diego FC, a possible landing spot in 2026 as he eyes the American soccer scene.
After Don Garber publicly opened the door for Salah to join Major League Soccer in 2026, the compass may indeed be pointing toward Southern California, with San Diego FC emerging as the most logical fit for “The Pharaoh.” But that raises the question: what are the real chances of such a move?
The link between Salah and Mohamed Mansour
This is not the first time Salah’s name has been tied to the MLS expansion franchise. Ever since San Diego FC’s official unveiling in May 2023, the Liverpool forward has been mentioned repeatedly in Southern California, largely because of his national connection to the club’s majority owner, fellow Egyptian Mohamed Mansour.
From day one of San Diego FC’s existence, Salah has been a dream signing for both fans and the broader sports community. Still, Mansour spelled out his stance clearly: “He’s an extraordinary player, but we want to develop many Mo Salahs in our academy.”
In its first year, the club has shown that its owner is firmly committed to developing young talent through the Right To Dream academy system, which already operates in Egypt, Ghana and Denmark. This year, the project expanded to San Diego with a new facility valued at roughly $150 million.
Nearly two years after Mansour’s original remarks, the idea of seeing Salah at Snapdragon Stadium has regained steam. Even so, the team’s current level, its playing style and recent results could all complicate dreams of seeing “MS11” at the venue – at least as a home player.
What people in San Diego are saying
According to analysts and journalists in Southern California, the odds of Salah arriving in San Diego remain slim – mainly because of the Egyptian’s footballing profile and the tactical approach favored by head coach Mikey Varas.
“Mo Salah doesn’t seem like the kind of player who sacrifices himself defensively. That doesn’t fit Mikey Varas’ style, and the roster already has two designated players: Chucky Lozano and Anders Dreyer, who might have been the league’s second-best player this year behind Messi. Mo basically plays the same position as Anders,” explained Mark Zeigler of the San Diego Union-Tribune during a roundtable on 97.3 FM The Fan, the city’s main sports radio station.
The similarities between Salah and Dreyer
In his first season in the United States, Dreyer became the MLS revelation, recording 19 goals and 19 assists. Although he didn’t start every game as a right winger, that is where the Danish attacker shone brightest. The San Diego No. 10 occasionally filled in as a false nine when striker Marcus Ingvartsen was injured, but with a full squad, it is hard to imagine anyone but Dreyer occupying the right side of Varas’ setup.
Salah’s outlook in MLS
Despite reservations, one familiar phrase keeps resurfacing within San Diego’s sports circles: “It’s football – or soccer – and anything can happen.” That saying carries extra weight after the way the club’s current designated player, Hirving “Chucky” Lozano, ended his season.
Following San Diego FC’s elimination in the Western Conference final, speculation about Lozano’s departure wasn’t far-fetched. He lost his starting spot at the most crucial stage of the season after an altercation that sidelined him for two games, costing him Varas’ trust. The coach ultimately kept a player earning between $7 million and $9 million on the bench even for the year’s biggest game, against Thomas Müller’s Vancouver Whitecaps. Indeed, whether you call it football or soccer, anything can happen.