Turkish Press: "The Egyptian King... The Deal of the Century"

The transfer of Egyptian star Mohamed Salah to Trabzonspor has become the most prominent sporting event in Turkey, with news of the deal dominating the front pages of newspapers and sports websites, which hailed the agreement as one of the largest in the history of Turkish football, with some even describing it as the “Deal of the Century.”

Media coverage extended beyond the official announcement of the signing, as newspapers tracked the details of the negotiations, the player’s journey to Turkey, and the anticipated public reception, alongside the sporting and economic impact expected from the deal on the club and the entire Turkish league.

Despite differences in headlines and angles of coverage, most Turkish newspapers and websites agreed that Mohamed Salah is not merely a new signing for Trabzonspor, but a major sporting and marketing project that could open a new chapter in the club’s history and provide the Turkish league with media and fan momentum unseen in recent years.

For Turkish media, Salah’s arrival does not only strengthen Trabzonspor’s squad; it represents an exceptional event that could reshape the image of the Turkish league on the global stage, making it more attractive to fans, sponsors, and media outlets in the future. Newspapers noted that Salah’s transfer would grant Trabzonspor unprecedented media presence and attract global attention to the Turkish league, at a time when Turkish clubs are striving to regain their continental standing by attracting global stars.

Several Turkish media outlets have dubbed Salah the “Egyptian King,” emphasizing that his mere addition to the Turkish league represents a significant gain for the competition, both technically and in terms of fan engagement and commercial value.

The Fotomac newspaper led the coverage with the headline “Deal of the Century from Trabzonspor: Mohamed Salah,” considering that the club’s management had succeeded in securing the largest deal in its history. It also reviewed the Egyptian national team captain’s career from his beginnings with Al-Mokawloon Al-Arab, through his time at Swiss club Basel, Chelsea, Fiorentina, and Roma, to his golden years at Liverpool, confirming that Trabzonspor had managed to attract one of the most prominent football stars in the world.

Meanwhile, the Hürriyet newspaper considered the club to have signed its biggest deal in history, noting that the agreement with Mohamed Salah seemed impossible just a short while ago, but has now become a reality that will change Trabzonspor’s standing both sportingly and commercially, granting it a greater presence on the European stage.

For its part, the Fanatik newspaper described the deal as the “Deal of the Season,” focusing on the financial aspects of the contract. It pointed out that the player will receive a substantial annual salary, along with performance-related bonuses, as well as a percentage of revenue from the sale of shirts bearing his name, considering the agreement to be a long-term investment for the club rather than just a sporting transaction.

The Sporx website followed the negotiation stages up to the moment of signing the contracts, arguing that Salah’s arrival will raise the marketing value of the Turkish league to unprecedented levels and attract global media attention to the competition, given the Egyptian star’s immense popularity.

Trabzonspor, which will play in the Europa League qualification playoffs later this month, officially announced the signing of Salah yesterday for a two-year period. In a statement, the club clarified that Salah, who will wear the number 10 shirt, will earn 17 million euros annually without counting performance bonuses, a record figure in the Turkish league. It added that he will also receive 20% of the revenue from the sale of shirts and promotional products bearing his name.

For his part, Salah said: “Wherever I go, I win something or try to win something. I hope we can achieve beautiful things in the league and in European competitions as well.”