Mohamed Salah arrived at Istanbul Ataturk Airport on Wednesday wearing Trabzonspor's burgundy and blue kit, greeted by hundreds of fans, ahead of his expected move to the Turkish Super Lig side. The Egyptian forward, 34, is set to sign a contract at a ceremony in the Black Sea city of Trabzon on Thursday, following the club's announcement on Tuesday that negotiations were underway.
Salah's arrival and fan reception
Upon landing, Salah was mobbed by supporters, waved at the crowd, and initiated a traditional chant before departing for a medical check and a later planned flight east to Trabzon. In a video posted by the club on X, Salah said: "Trabzon, are you ready? I can hear you. See you very soon," adding "Everywhere is Trabzon to us," referencing the club's motto.
Trabzonspor chairman Ertugrul Dogan confirmed they expect to sign Salah on a free transfer, a significant coup for the club, which finished third in the Super Lig last season and will enter the Europa League playoffs.
Career highlights and Liverpool departure
Salah left Liverpool this summer after nine years, having scored 257 goals in 442 appearances, winning the Premier League twice and the Champions League once. In the 2024-25 season, he scored 29 Premier League goals and provided 18 assists, equalling the league record for most goal involvements in a season and setting the record for a 38-game campaign. He was named Premier League Player of the Season, won the Golden Boot and the Playmaker Award, becoming the first player to take all three in one campaign.
His output waned last season, with seven goals and seven assists in 27 league matches, and he was left on the bench in Champions League games, leading to a public spat with Liverpool's then-manager Arne Slot.
Career path and previous interest
The 34-year-old began his European career at Swiss side Basel in 2012, later joining Chelsea, with brief stints at Fiorentina and Roma between 2015 and 2017 before moving to Liverpool. Salah had been close to joining Istanbul club Besiktas, but negotiations stalled over financial and image-rights demands, according to local media, with Besiktas football director Onder Ozen confirming the breakdown.
Trabzonspor, generally considered the fourth-biggest team in Turkey after Fenerbahce, Galatasaray, and Besiktas, are banking on Salah's experience to boost their Europa League campaign and domestic challenge.
