Mohamed Salah has agreed to join Trabzonspor, the Turkish Super Lig club confirmed on Tuesday. The Egyptian winger is set to sign a two-year contract after leaving Liverpool at the end of last season. The 34-year-old has been a free agent since his nine-year spell at Anfield came to a close this summer.
Trabzonspor announced that Salah was due to land at Istanbul Ataturk Airport on Wednesday, August 5, for talks, with a further trip to the city of Trabzon expected the same evening, according to AFP reporting carried by The Daily Star. The club confirmed transfer negotiations were underway, though noted the deal was not yet finalised at that stage.
Why Trabzonspor Over Saudi Arabia or MLS
Salah had previously attracted interest from clubs in the Saudi Pro League, while MLS sides San Diego and Sporting Kansas City were also reported to be monitoring his situation, per Vanguard. He opted against all of them. According to The Sporting News, his preference was to remain in European competition, still believing he can contribute at a high level.
Trabzonspor finished third in the Super Lig last season. They are preparing for a UEFA Europa League playoff fixture later in August, giving Salah continental football in his first season at the club.
Contract Terms and Wages
Turkish transfer journalist Yagiz Sabuncuoglu, cited by FootballTransfers and reported by Vanguard, said Salah had agreed personal terms with Trabzonspor, though one contractual clause still required sign-off before the move could be made official. A report from The Sun, referenced by The Sporting News, put Salah’s combined weekly earnings from salary and bonuses at around €424,600.
That figure falls slightly short of what he earned at Liverpool. At Anfield, he was reportedly taking home approximately €466,900 per week.
Trabzonspor’s Standing in Turkish Football
Trabzonspor rank as the fourth-largest club in Turkey by support, behind Galatasaray, Fenerbahce, and Besiktas. Their Europa League place means Salah will face competitive European nights from the off, rather than winding down in a purely domestic setting.
How the Deal Came Together
The move was not without turbulence before it was confirmed. Vanguard reported that Trabzonspor president Ertugrul Dogan had dismissed earlier claims that an agreement was in place. Footage also emerged of Salah relaxing at a beach club in Mykonos on August 4, published by Mykonos Live TV, while reports from Turkey indicated multiple clubs were still in the picture.
A decade. That is how long it has been since Salah last changed clubs. His Liverpool tenure brought two Premier League titles and a Champions League winners’ medal.
