Egyptian football superstar Mohamed Salah has arrived in Türkiye to complete a sensational move to Trabzonspor following the end of his trophy-laden nine-year spell at Liverpool.
The 34-year-old landed at Istanbul’s Atatürk Airport on Wednesday wearing Trabzonspor’s distinctive claret-and-blue colours, where hundreds of supporters had gathered to welcome him.
Salah smiled, waved and joined fans in chanting “Ya Allah, Bismillah, Mohamed Salah” and the club slogan “Bize her yer Trabzon” — “Everywhere is Trabzon to us”. After completing a medical examination in Istanbul, he travelled on to Trabzon, where thousands more supporters greeted him with chants, flags and flares.
The forward admitted he had been taken aback by the reception.
“I’m incredibly happy to be in this amazing atmosphere,” Salah told Trabzonspor’s media team. “I honestly cannot remember seeing anything like this before.”
Salah had earlier addressed supporters through a video shared across the club’s social media accounts while travelling to Türkiye.
“Trabzon, are you ready? I can hear you. See you very soon,” he said before repeating the popular Trabzonspor motto: “Everywhere is Trabzon to us.”
The arrival generated enormous excitement among Turkish football fans, particularly Trabzonspor supporters, some of whom travelled from other parts of Türkiye and abroad.
One supporter told Anadolu Agency she had cut short her holiday in the United States to attend the welcome, while another said he still could not believe the club had attracted a player of Salah’s stature. Fans expressed hopes that his experience would help Trabzonspor challenge for the Süper Lig title and make an impact in Europe.
Trabzonspor confirmed on Tuesday that negotiations had begun with Salah, who is joining as a free agent after leaving Liverpool at the end of last season. His formal signing ceremony is scheduled to take place at Papara Park at 7.30pm local time on Thursday, 6 August. Although Turkish media have reported that he will sign a two-year contract, the club has not yet publicly disclosed the financial terms.
Salah leaves Anfield as one of Liverpool’s greatest-ever players. Since joining from Roma in 2017, the Egypt captain scored 257 goals in 442 appearances and helped the Reds win two Premier League titles, the Champions League, FA Cup, FIFA Club World Cup and two League Cups.
Trabzonspor, who last became Turkish champions in 2022, finished third in the Süper Lig last season and will compete in the Europa League play-off round. The capture of one of world football’s most recognisable stars represents a major statement of intent from the Black Sea club.
