Mohamed Salah Joins Trabzonspor in Two-Year Deal

By Arjun Nair / 07.08.2026

By Arjun Nair — 7 August 2026 — 3 min read

Mohamed Salah has officially joined Trabzonspor on a two-year contract, moving to Turkiye after his departure from Liverpool. The Egypt international arrived in Istanbul on Wednesday, where he was met by numerous fans, ahead of his official signing ceremony scheduled for Thursday.

Salah, a free agent after concluding his tenure with Liverpool at the end of the previous season, had been a prominent figure in the Premier League. During his time at Liverpool, he secured two league titles and the Champions League, among eight major honours. He scored 257 goals in 442 appearances for the Merseyside club.

Salah’s move to Trabzonspor

The decision to join Trabzonspor, a club that finished third in the Super Lig last season and is a seven-time Turkish champion, has drawn attention. While Saudi Arabia and Major League Soccer (MLS) were considered potential destinations, Salah ultimately chose to remain in Europe. Trabzonspor confirmed in a filing to the Turkish stock exchange that Salah is set to earn around $19.5 million per season and will receive 20% of the revenue from merchandise bearing his name.

Despite the financial offers from Saudi clubs, which were reportedly higher, and the commercial appeal of MLS, staying in Europe appeared to be a significant factor in Salah’s choice. Trabzonspor will participate in the UEFA Europa League play-offs, with a chance to advance to the league phase, or secure a spot in the UEFA Conference League if they do not progress.

The Turkish top flight, while not considered among Europe’s elite leagues, still offers regular European competition. For Salah, who helped Egypt reach the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup, continuing to compete in Europe was an important consideration.

Impact and expectations

Trabzonspor, despite not having the global profile of Istanbul’s major clubs like Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe, and Beşiktaş, is one of Turkey’s most successful teams. They won the Super Lig in the 2021-22 season and added the Turkish Cup last season. The club has ambitions of returning to European group-stage football.

For Salah, this move positions him as a central figure for Trabzonspor’s sporting and commercial aspirations. Supporters gathered to welcome him even before his arrival in Trabzon, highlighting the significance of his transfer.

The 34-year-old Salah’s recent performances indicate he still has much to offer. His final season at Liverpool, marked by a strained relationship with coach Arne Slot, saw him score 12 goals across all competitions. The season prior, he had a strong individual campaign, scoring 34 goals and providing 23 assists as Liverpool won the Premier League.

Fatih Tekke is expected to deploy Salah in his familiar right-sided attacking role, allowing him to use his left foot and remain a focal point of the team’s attack. Salah’s arrival also reflects the evolving landscape of Turkish football, which is increasingly attracting established international players. Players such as Victor Osimhen, Leroy Sané, İlkay Gündoğan, Nathan Aké, and Leandro Trossard are now playing in Turkey, with Trabzonspor already featuring André Onana, Ruslan Malinovskyi, and Stefan Savić in their squad.

Former Rangers midfielder Ryan Jack believes Salah’s transfer will increase international attention on the competition. He noted that Salah’s move is likely to encourage more people to follow the Turkish league, highlighting its growing reputation and competitiveness. Salah had a year remaining on his contract at Liverpool but announced his departure in March after a disappointing campaign.

His official signing ceremony is scheduled for later on Thursday.

Source: aljazeera.com