Mohamed Salah, the former Liverpool forward and Egypt captain, is expected to complete his move to Turkish club Trabzonspor. He arrived in Istanbul on Wednesday, where he was greeted by hundreds of enthusiastic fans at Ataturk Airport.
Salah, 34, was seen wearing Trabzonspor colours and engaging with the crowd. The club had previously announced on Tuesday that negotiations were underway to sign the player, who is a free agent.
Salah’s arrival and career highlights
Upon his arrival, Salah waved to supporters and participated in a traditional chant before heading for a medical examination. He is then scheduled to travel east to Trabzon for the signing ceremony, which Trabzonspor chairman Ertugrul Dogan indicated would likely take place on Thursday.
A video posted by the club on social media showed Salah saying, “Trabzon, are you ready? I can hear you. See you very soon.” He also referenced the club’s motto, stating, “Everywhere is Trabzon to us.”
Salah departed Liverpool at the end of last season after a nine-year tenure on Merseyside. During his time with the club, he scored 257 goals in 442 appearances. He contributed to Liverpool winning two Premier League titles, the Champions League, the Club World Cup, the Uefa Super Cup, the FA Cup, and two EFL Cups.
Individually, Salah earned the Premier League Golden Boot four times and was named the Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year three times, in 2018, 2022, and 2025. In the 2024-25 season, he scored 29 Premier League goals and provided 18 assists, matching the league record for most goal involvements in a single season and setting a new record for a 38-game campaign. He was also named Premier League Player of the Season and won the Golden Boot and the Playmaker Award that season.
His playing time reportedly decreased in the subsequent campaign after a disagreement with former Liverpool head coach Arne Slot.
Impact of the transfer for Trabzonspor
This transfer is considered a significant move for Trabzonspor, often regarded as the fourth-largest team in Turkey, behind Istanbul clubs Fenerbahce, Galatasaray, and Besiktas. The club, nicknamed the Black Sea Storm, has won seven league titles, with their most recent success in 2022 ending a 38-year wait.
Trabzonspor finished third in the Super Lig last season, eight points behind champions Galatasaray, which secures them a spot in European football next season, entering the Europa League play-offs. If they do not advance to the Europa League league phase, they will compete in the Conference League.
The signing of Salah is expected to boost supporter engagement and significantly increase shirt sales. It could also broaden the club’s commercial appeal, particularly in the Middle East and among the Arab community in Trabzon. This move marks a strategic shift for Trabzonspor, which has traditionally focused on developing young talent.
Salah had previously been close to joining another Turkish club, Besiktas, but negotiations reportedly stalled due to financial and image-rights demands. His arrival in Turkey follows a successful World Cup campaign where Egypt reached the round of 16 for the first time.
The Trabzonspor squad currently includes on-loan Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana, as well as Cape Verde’s World Cup stars Wagner Pina and Sidny Lopes Cabral. Salah’s signing adds him to a list of notable players who have joined Trabzonspor, including former Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge and former Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe.
Source: bbc.co.uk
Freya Donnelly is the Sports Reporter at News-UK, covering tennis, cricket and athletics with seven years of reporting experience. She reported on Team GB through an Olympic cycle. She holds a degree in Sport and Media from the University of Brighton and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Brighton, she plays club cricket in the summer. “Listening is the most underrated skill in sports reporting.”
