Mohamed Salah Arrives in Istanbul Ahead of Trabzonspor Transfer

Mohamed Salah touched down in Istanbul on Wednesday morning with a big grin on his face. The Egyptian forward wore the burgundy and blue kit of Trabzonspor as he arrived at Ataturk Airport. Hundreds of fans surged forward, desperate to catch a glimpse of the star before his official transfer was finalized. He waved to supporters and started a traditional chant with them right there in the terminal. Soon after, he left for a medical checkup and a flight east toward Trabzon.

The club confirmed negotiations began a day prior to this arrival. Chairman Ertugrul Dogan stated they expected to sign the 34-year-old on a free transfer during a ceremony in the Black Sea city on Thursday. Salah addressed his new home directly via video posted on X. He asked, "Trabzon, are you ready? I can hear you." The message was clear: see you very soon. He added that everywhere felt like Trabzon to him, echoing the club's motto while modeling the jersey.

Salah spent nine years at Liverpool before departing last season. His career there included 442 appearances and 257 goals. Those numbers came with two Premier League titles and one Champions League trophy. In the 2024-25 campaign, he scored 29 league goals and added 18 assists. That output equaled the record for most goal involvements in a single season. He also set a mark for a 38-game campaign. His performance earned him the Premier League Player of the Season award. Furthermore, he claimed the Golden Boot and the Playmaker Award. No other player had taken all three honors in one season before him.

His form dipped last year with just seven goals and seven assists in 27 league matches. He sat on the bench during Champions League games, which sparked a public argument with manager Arne Slot. His European journey started at Swiss side Basel back in 2012. Chelsea came next, followed by brief spells at Fiorentina and AS Roma between 2015 and 2017. Trabzonspor sits as the fourth biggest team in Turkiye behind Fenerbahce, Galatasaray, and Besiktas. They finished third in the Super Lig last season and will enter the Europa League playoff round. Their last league championship came in the 2021-22 season. Reports say Salah was close to joining Besiktas but talks stalled over money and image rights demands. Details of his new contract remain undisclosed for now.