Mohamed Salah, who left Liverpool as a free agent at the end of last season, has arrived in Turkey and is set to sign for Trabzonspor on Thursday. He has already been photographed in the club’s colours and will wear the number 61 shirt — a symbolic number associated with the Trabzon region.
Why the Move Is Surprising
- Salah is only two seasons removed from a 29-goal, 18-assist Premier League campaign (2024–25), one of the best individual seasons in league history.
- Despite his global star status, he ended up in the Turkish Super Lig, rather than Saudi Arabia, MLS, or a Champions League club.
Why the Move Makes Sense
- His final Liverpool season was difficult:
- Only 7 league goals
- Reduced minutes
- A falling out with manager Arne Slot
- As a free agent, Trabzonspor could allocate more budget to his wages. His Liverpool contract was reportedly £400,000 per week.
Why Trabzonspor?
Trabzonspor are historically Turkey’s fourth-biggest club, behind Istanbul giants Galatasaray, Fenerbahce, Besiktas.
- Location: Trabzon, on the Black Sea coast
- Titles: 7 Turkish championships (last in 2021–22)
- Manager: Fatih Tekke
- Last season: Finished 3rd in the Super Lig
- European status: Must win a play-off to reach the Europa League league phase
Despite not being an Istanbul powerhouse, the club has pulled off notable signings before (Daniel Sturridge, Nicolas Pepe).
Impact of Salah’s Arrival
- Instantly becomes Trabzonspor’s biggest signing ever
- Was mobbed by fans upon arrival
- Huge commercial upside:
- Shirt sponsor Papara also owns stadium naming rights
- Salah’s global brand elevates the club’s visibility
Current Squad Highlights
- Andre Onana (on loan from Manchester United)
- Cape Verde internationals Wagner Pina and Sidny Lopes Cabral (scored vs Argentina at the World Cup)
Salah’s First Words
In a video from his private jet: “Trabzon, are you ready? See you very soon.”
