Sporting KC Ownership Confirms Attempting to Sign Egyptian Star Mo Salah

On Friday afternoon, when the football world was watching Spain battle Belgium for a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinals, a little soccer club out of Kansas made big waves.

Tom Bogert and Paul Tenorio of the Athletic reported that Sporting Kansas City “has emerged as [the] top MLS suitor for Liverpool legend Mo Salah.”

They immediately added the “longshot” caveat since it’s likely he may stay in Europe or head to the Saudi league. But there is no denying it’s ambitious.

“Sources indicate Salah prefers to remain in Europe, but, as he mulls his options, he remains open to a move to MLS.”

For those sleeping under a rock, Mo Salah is one of the best footballers in the world. He’s spent the last decade causing nightmares to Premier League fullbacks as a member of Liverpool. In his illustrious career he has 334 goals and 171 assists in all competitions, including 193 goal and 95 assists in the Premier League and another 50 goals and 21 assists in the UEFA Champions League.

Even at 34-years-old, coming to Sporting KC would be a cataclysmic move that would rock the football world. And he’d bring his nearly 67 million Instagram followers with him. A marketing dream for the 31-year-old club.

No word on if Sporting KC have Mo Salah’s “Discovery Rights,” but MLS would move heaven and earth to get another superstar into the league.

Sporting KC Ownership Weighs In

In a direct reply to Tom Bogert, new Sporting KC majority owner, Peter Mallouk, weighed in on the rumor along with the news the team is still working on moves for Andre Luiz and Yann Gboho.

“Promises made will be promises kept,” started Mallouk. “Lots of conversations happening. One way or another, this team will be significantly better in the second half, much better by the sprint season.”

Significantly better. That has to be music to Sporting KC fan’s ears. Whether that is the addition of Mo Salah or not, Mallouk is letting his money do the talking. In a recent interview with Forbes Magazine, Mallouk said, “I’ve met with everybody, and they know the checkbook is wide open.”

In another reply to a member of the media, Mallouk reiterated the urgency but also the reality of the possibility of Mo Salah joining the team.

“Long shot for sure but many conversations [are] happening and there are no limitations on what is possible. The goal is to get back to winning quickly. This is not a multi-year turnaround.”

When Kansas’ own Andrew Weibe commented, he seemed to be hinting this reminded him of the Robb Heineman days in terms of ownership communication with the fans. And Mallouk weighed in there too.

“I know I have to give the fans a reason to believe. Moving as fast as possible to get them more than a few reasons!”

He also offered to meet with a young fan and he said, “one way or another things are going to get substantively better.”

It’s all great to hear. There is a subset of the fanbase that won’t believe it until they see it. The summer transfer window runs all the way through September 2nd. Let David Lee, Sporting KC’s President of Soccer Operations, cook.

Other Big Spending Options for SKC

Salah’s reported wage in 2026 was north of £20 million (~$26.8 million). If that stayed the same, it would put him behind only one player in MLS: Lionel Messi.

That salary is also more than the rumored fee Sporting KC has offered up for a couple wingers out of Europe. Speaking of Andre Luiz and Yann Gboho, those moves are still in play.

Bogert and Tenorio also reported, “Salah is not the only big-money player Sporting KC is chasing this summer. The team is looking to make good on a promise of spending more money and increasing ambition as the club evolves into its next era.”

The Athletic confirmed the rumor for Luiz and reiterated their reporting on Gboho saying, “Sporting KC continues to work on possible deals.”

“Either deal would be among the most expensive fees in league history pending final agreements and decisions, with both being discussed in the range of $18-20 million. Negotiations for Luiz are further advanced than Gboho, sources add.”

More on those two rumors: 

• Yann Gboho rumor
• Andre Luiz rumor

Can Sporting KC Sign All These Guys?

No. Well, probably not.

Major League Soccer’s rulebook allows a team up to three Designated Players. The club already has two in striker Dejan Joveljic and midfielder Manu Garcia. The fees for Luiz and Gboho would make them DPs and Salah’s salary would be monumental. They also all play the same position.

I read this situation as they will add either one of these three or another high-priced player. The only way to add more, would be to part with Dejan or Manu.

And Sporting KC have already gone shopping this year.

As we discussed earlier this season, the team had already outlaid an estimated $8.63 million in transfer fees alone. And that was before the signings of left back Emir Karic and center back Moises Mosquera. The likelihood is Mosquera was expensive. He’s a young and talented defender out of a good league in Mexico. They signed him to a five-year deal, perhaps to spread out his fee.

Transfermarkt lists the estimated fees for Mosquera and Karic in Euros:

If those figures are right (which they may not be), Sporting KC have already spent $16.65 million in transfer fees alone this season. That doesn’t even count salaries. We know the early 2026 salaries, but new signings Or Blorian (free transfer) and the aforementioned Mosquera and Karic aren’t known yet.

2026 Sporting KC Salaries Released

So, even if none of these three moves happen, the spending has begun. And Mallouk has shown a willingness to spend more. And right after Bogert and Tenorio posted their story, international transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano, weighed in.