Mohamed Salah has arrived in Turkey to finalise a transfer to Trabzonspor, marking the end of his nine-year tenure at Liverpool. The 34-year-old Egyptian forward was greeted by hundreds of fans at Istanbul Ataturk Airport on Wednesday, arriving in Trabzonspor attire to finalise the deal with the Turkish Super Lig club.
Salah left Liverpool at the conclusion of the last season after scoring 257 goals in 442 appearances, a period during which he won two Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League. His final season at Liverpool was challenging, with a reported decline in form and a strained relationship with then-manager Arne Slot. Salah announced in March that he intended to leave Liverpool despite having a year left on his contract.
Following his departure as a free agent, Salah had attracted interest from several clubs, including Turkish rivals Besiktas and teams from the Saudi Pro League. However, Trabzonspor emerged as the frontrunner, securing his signature with a reported two-year deal worth approximately £14.5 million per season after tax, translating to around £363,000 per week. The club confirmed it began formal negotiations prior to Salah’s arrival in Istanbul, where he released a video message to supporters saying, “Trabzon, are you ready? I can hear you. See you very soon.”
Trabzonspor, based in the Black Sea city of Trabzon, is one of only six clubs to have won the Turkish Super Lig. The team won its most recent league title in 2022, ending a 38-year wait and adding to six championships secured between 1976 and 1984. Last season, the club finished third, eight points behind champions Galatasaray, and faces a play-off round to qualify for the Europa League group stage.
The arrival of Salah is viewed by Trabzonspor’s leadership as a significant boost. Club president Ertugrul Dogan described Salah as a “world star” whose presence would benefit the team and its supporters. Salah is expected to wear the No. 10 jersey and aims to contribute to their domestic and European ambitions.
While some observers have expressed surprise at Salah’s move to a Turkish club given his stature and previous status at Liverpool, his financial package and the limited number of clubs able to meet his terms reportedly played a key role. Salah’s tenure at Liverpool also coincided with reported dissatisfaction over the team's playing style and his treatment by the former coaching staff.
Separately, Liverpool continue to pursue attacking reinforcements, reportedly considering Paris Saint-Germain’s teenage winger Ibrahim Mbaye as part of efforts to rebuild their forward options. Meanwhile, interest in other PSG players, such as Bradley Barcola, remains complicated due to high transfer valuations.
Trabzonspor plans an official unveiling ceremony for Salah at Papara Park stadium in the coming days, inviting supporters to attend in the club’s new season shirts to mark the historic signing.