Mohamed Salah arrived at Istanbul Airport on Wednesday wearing Trabzonspor’s famous burgundy and blue shirt, as he prepares to complete his expected move to the Turkish Super Lig club. Hundreds of supporters gathered to welcome the Egyptian star.
Trabzonspor confirmed on Tuesday that they were in talks with Salah. Club chairman Ertugrul Dogan said they expect to complete the signing of the 34-year-old on a free transfer during a special ceremony in Trabzon on Thursday.
In a video shared by the club on X, Salah sent a message to the fans: “Trabzon, are you ready? I can hear you. See you very soon.” He also said, “Everywhere is Trabzon to us,” while wearing the club’s shirt, repeating Trabzonspor’s well-known motto.
When Salah landed at Ataturk Airport, he was welcomed by hundreds of excited fans. He waved to the crowd and joined them in a traditional chant before leaving for his medical examination and a later flight to Trabzon.
Salah left Liverpool earlier this summer after spending nine successful years at Anfield. During that time, he scored 257 goals in 442 matches, winning two Premier League titles and one UEFA Champions League trophy.
In the 2024-25 Premier League season, Salah scored 29 goals and provided 18 assists. He matched the league record for the most goal contributions in a single season and set a new record in a 38-match campaign. He also won the Premier League Player of the Season, Golden Boot, and Playmaker Award, becoming the first player to claim all three prizes in the same season.
However, his performances dropped last season. Salah finished with seven goals and seven assists in 27 league matches and was often left on the bench during Champions League games. This led to a public disagreement with Liverpool’s former manager, Arne Slot.
The Egyptian forward started his European career with Swiss club Basel in 2012 before moving to Chelsea. He later spent time with Fiorentina and Roma between 2015 and 2017 before joining Liverpool.
Trabzonspor, widely seen as Turkey’s fourth-biggest club behind Fenerbahce, Galatasaray, and Besiktas, finished third in the Super Lig last season and secured a place in the Europa League qualifying playoffs.
Before agreeing to join Trabzonspor, Salah was reportedly close to signing for Besiktas. According to local media, the deal failed after negotiations broke down over financial terms and image rights.
