Mohamed Salah Set to Join Trabzonspor After Liverpool Departure

By Liam Tremblay — 5 August 2026 — 3 min read

Mohamed Salah, the former Liverpool forward, arrived in Turkey on Wednesday and is expected to sign with Trabzonspor. Hundreds of fans gathered at Ataturk Airport in Istanbul to greet Salah, who was seen wearing Trabzonspor colours.

The forward departed Liverpool at the conclusion of last season after nine years with the club. Trabzonspor announced on Tuesday that negotiations with Salah had begun. The club chairman, Ertugrul Dogan, stated that they anticipated signing Salah on a free transfer during a ceremony scheduled for Thursday in the Black Sea city.

Salah’s Arrival and Fan Reception

Upon his arrival at Ataturk Airport, Salah was met by a large crowd of supporters. He waved to the fans and participated in a traditional chant before proceeding for a medical check. A video posted by Trabzonspor on social media featured Salah saying, “Trabzon, are you ready? I can hear you. See you very soon.” He also added, “Everywhere is Trabzon to us,” while wearing a Trabzonspor kit, referencing the club’s motto.

Salah’s transfer is considered a significant event for Trabzonspor. The club used social media to tease his arrival, showing the Pyramids in a video next to Papara Park, followed by a post confirming that negotiations had commenced. The club also shared information that allowed fans to track Salah’s flight into Istanbul.

Career Highlights and Future Prospects

During his nine years at Liverpool, Salah scored 257 goals in 442 appearances. He contributed to Liverpool winning the Premier League twice and the Champions League once. He also won the Premier League Golden Boot four times and was named the Professional Footballers’ Association player of the year three times, in 2018, 2022, and 2025.

In the 2024-25 season, Salah scored 29 Premier League goals and provided 18 assists, matching the league record for most goal involvements in a season and setting a new record for a 38-game campaign. He was awarded the Premier League Player of the Season, the Golden Boot, and the Playmaker Award.

His output in the subsequent season saw him score seven goals and provide seven assists in 27 league matches, and he was benched in Champions League games, leading to a public disagreement with former Liverpool head coach Arne Slot. Salah began his European career with Swiss club Basel in 2012, later joining Chelsea, and had stints at Fiorentina and Roma between 2015 and 2017 before moving to Liverpool.

Trabzonspor’s Strategic Move

Trabzonspor, often regarded as the fourth-largest team in Turkey after Istanbul clubs Fenerbahce, Galatasaray, and Besiktas, finished third in the Super Lig last season. This position qualifies them for European football next season, where they will participate in the Europa League playoffs. If they do not advance to the league phase of the Europa League, they will compete in the Conference League.

Salah’s signing is seen as one of the biggest transfers in Turkish football history. The club, nicknamed the Black Sea Storm, has won seven league titles, with their most recent success in 2022, ending a 38-year wait. The transfer represents a shift in strategy for Trabzonspor, which has traditionally focused on developing young players. This move is expected to boost supporter engagement and increase shirt sales, potentially broadening the club’s commercial appeal, particularly in the Middle East and among the Arab community in Trabzon.

Salah was reportedly close to joining another Turkish club, Besiktas, but negotiations stalled over financial and image-rights demands, according to local media. He will join former Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge and former Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe at Trabzonspor.

Source: bbc.com