Salah to Trabzon
Egyptian striker Mohamed Salah, who became a free agent following his departure from English club Liverpool, arrived in Istanbul yesterday en route to joining Turkish side Trabzonspor. The 34-year-old player landed at Istanbul’s Atatürk Airport, where he was greeted outside by hundreds of club supporters who had gathered to welcome him, according to France Press correspondents.
Abdel Karim Yervan, a Trabzonspor fan, told France Press near a banner describing the Egyptian star as a “gift from God”: “I came straight from work. I work at night, and I’m ready to spend another sleepless night for Mohamed Salah.”
Trabzonspor had earlier posted on the X platform: “Salah mode activated,” accompanied by images of the player aboard a private jet wearing the club’s blue and maroon jersey. The club, based in the northeastern Turkish city of Trabzon and qualified for the UEFA Europa League play-offs, announced yesterday that it had begun “negotiations” with the Egyptian star, who left Liverpool after nine seasons during which he won the same number of titles with the Reds.
Salah is scheduled to undergo a medical examination in Istanbul yesterday before traveling to Trabzon. The right winger will sign a two-year contract with an option to extend for an additional season, and will earn an annual salary of 17 million euros, according to several Turkish media outlets.
Trabzonspor, last crowned Turkish champions in 2022, is the only club from the Anatolian region to have successfully competed with Istanbul’s major clubs: Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe, and Beşiktaş.
Salah holds legendary status with the Egyptian national team, having scored 68 goals in 121 international appearances and helping the team reach the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup. He also left a historic mark at Liverpool, scoring 257 goals and providing 123 assists in 442 matches across all competitions.
Salah joined Liverpool from Roma in 2017, winning two Premier League titles and one UEFA Champions League trophy with the club. Although “the Egyptian King,” as he is known in England, delivered a performance below his usual standards in his final season, his popularity has not waned, whether in Liverpool or in Egypt.
