Mohamed Salah Joins Trabzonspor: A New Era for the Turkish Club

By Sanjay Menon — 5 August 2026 — 4 min read

Turkish club Trabzonspor is preparing to confirm the signing of Mohamed Salah, with the Egypt captain having arrived in Turkey to a large crowd of fans. Hundreds gathered outside Ataturk Airport in Istanbul on Wednesday as Salah, wearing Trabzonspor colours, engaged with the crowd. The 34-year-old forward departed Liverpool at the conclusion of last season after nine years with the club, during which he scored 257 goals.

Salah, who is a free agent, will play European football with Trabzonspor next season after they finished third, eight points behind champions Galatasaray. Should they not advance to the league phase of the Europa League through the play-offs, they will participate in the Conference League.

Salah’s Arrival and Impact

Salah’s arrival in Turkey generated significant excitement. Trabzonspor had teased his arrival on social media, showing the Pyramids alongside Papara Park in a video. This was followed by a post confirming that negotiations had commenced between Salah and Trabzonspor, and details were shared on how to track Salah’s flight into Istanbul.

In a video recorded on a private jet, Salah addressed fans, stating, “Trabzon, are you ready? See you very soon.” The club’s flight tracking proved useful as a substantial number of fans gathered at the airport to welcome him. This transfer is considered a major event for Trabzonspor, given Salah’s global prominence.

Salah’s signing is anticipated to be one of the largest in the club’s history. He joins former Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge and former Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe in wearing the claret and sky blue shirt. During his tenure in England, Salah secured two Premier League titles, the Champions League, the Club World Cup, Uefa Super Cup, FA Cup, and two EFL Cups with Liverpool.

He also claimed the Premier League Golden Boot on four occasions and was named the Professional Footballers’ Association player of the year in 2018 and 2022. Despite scoring 29 goals and providing 18 assists in Liverpool’s 2024-25 title-winning season, Salah’s playing time reportedly decreased the following campaign after a disagreement with former Reds head coach Arne Slot.

Trabzonspor, known as the Black Sea Storm, has won seven league titles, with six of these victories occurring between 1976 and 1984. Their most recent league success was in 2022, ending a 38-year wait. Based in the north-eastern city of Trabzon, they are one of only six teams to have won the Turkish Super Lig.

Future Targets and Club Strategy

Following the negotiations for Salah, Trabzonspor has reportedly begun exploring other attacking targets. According to one report, the club has opened talks to sign Uruguayan striker Darwin Nunez from Al-Hilal. The club is reportedly preparing to engage with Nunez, his representatives, and Al-Hilal’s management to assess the possibility of a transfer.

Nunez, 27, made 24 appearances for Al-Hilal last season, contributing nine goals and five assists. He joined Al-Hilal from Liverpool last summer. However, the arrival of Karim Benzema in the winter window reportedly led to manager Simone Inzaghi sidelining Nunez, prompting the striker to seek a move. Besiktas is also reportedly interested in Nunez, potentially on loan, after their own attempt to sign Salah did not proceed.

The signing of Salah represents a strategic shift for Trabzonspor. While the club has historically focused on developing young players and identifying talent for resale, the league has seen increasing dominance from Fenerbahce and Galatasaray. This move is aimed at revitalizing fan enthusiasm, which had reportedly waned, leading to lower attendance at Papara Park. Salah’s arrival is expected to boost shirt sales and expand Trabzonspor’s commercial appeal, particularly within the Middle East and among the Arab community in Trabzon.

Trabzonspor president Ertugrul Dogan has reportedly expressed confidence in attracting star players, challenging domestic rivals in Turkey. Salah’s official unveiling is likely to follow his medical examination.

The Turkish club announced on Türkiye’s Public Disclosure Platform, via a statement to the Istanbul Stock Exchange, that negotiations had commenced for the transfer of professional footballer Mohamed Salah, who is a free agent. Salah had announced in March that he would be departing English Premier League club Liverpool FC.

Salah scored 257 goals for Liverpool across 442 appearances in all competitions, placing him as the third-highest goalscorer in the club’s history. He has also registered 193 Premier League goals, with 191 of those for the Reds, positioning him fourth on the all-time list behind Alan Shearer, Harry Kane, and Wayne Rooney.

Source: bbc.com