Mohamed Salah arrived at an Istanbul airport on Wednesday, greeted by hundreds of enthusiastic fans as he prepares to finalize his transfer to the Turkish club Trabzonspor. The 34-year-old Egyptian forward, who departed Liverpool at the conclusion of the previous season, was seen wearing the club’s signature burgundy and blue kit upon his arrival.
Trabzonspor confirmed they were in active negotiations with the player earlier this week. Club chairman Ertugrul Dogan stated that the team expects to officially sign the veteran on a free transfer during a ceremony scheduled for Thursday in the Black Sea city of Trabzon. In a video shared by the club on X, Salah addressed the supporters, saying, “Trabzon, are you ready? I can hear you. See you very soon,” before adding the club’s motto, “Everywhere is Trabzon to us.”
Following his arrival at Ataturk Airport, Salah engaged with the crowd, participating in team chants before heading to undergo medical examinations. He is expected to fly to Trabzon shortly to complete the transition. Local media reports suggest that Salah had previously been in discussions with Besiktas, though those talks reportedly collapsed due to disagreements regarding financial terms and image rights.
Salah’s move follows a storied nine-year tenure at Liverpool, where he netted 257 goals across 442 appearances. During his time at Anfield, he secured one Champions League title and two Premier League trophies. His peak performance came during the 2024-25 season, where he recorded 29 league goals and 18 assists, setting a record for the most goal involvements in a 38-game campaign. That same year, he earned the Premier League Player of the Season award along with the Golden Boot and Playmaker Award.
However, his final season at the club saw a decline in production, with seven goals and seven assists in 27 league matches. His reduced role, which included being benched during Champions League fixtures, resulted in a public disagreement with manager Arne Slot. Before his long stint at Liverpool, Salah began his European career at Basel in 2012, followed by spells at Chelsea, Fiorentina, and AS Roma.
Trabzonspor, often ranked as the fourth-largest club in Turkey behind Istanbul giants Fenerbahce, Galatasaray, and Besiktas, finished third in the Super Lig last season. The club, which last won the league title in the 2021-22 campaign, is set to compete in the Europa League playoff round. While the specific terms of Salah’s contract remain undisclosed, his arrival marks a significant addition for the side.
Salah spent nine years at Liverpool, scoring 257 goals in 442 appearances and winning the Premier League twice and the Champions League once.
