Why is Mohamed Salah signing for Trabzonspor?

Mohamed Salah has chosen his next club: Turkish side Trabzonspor.

The Liverpool icon, who left Anfield as a free agent at the end of last season, has arrived in Turkey ahead of the move and has been pictured by the club wearing the team’s colours ahead of signing his contract on Thursday. He will wear the number 61 shirt at his new club.

Salah is just two seasons removed from an outstanding Premier League campaign where he scored 29 goals and made 18 assists in 2024-25, so to see the 34-year-old end up in the Super Lig is somewhat surprising.

Bordo-Mavili formasıyla ilk kez kameraların karşısında… İlk mesajı Büyük Trabzonspor Taraftarına:

Advertisement

“Bize Her Yer Trabzon!” ❤️💙#SalahIsComingpic.twitter.com/Sr1KcRDwpk

— Trabzonspor (@Trabzonspor) August 5, 2026

But the forward scored just seven league goals in his final season at Liverpool, with his minutes diminished amid a falling out with former Reds boss Arne Slot, so it also makes sense that Salah’s range of suitors was somewhat limited.

Still, the assumption was that Salah would have the pick of clubs from the Saudi Pro League or the MLS, or even an illustrious European side who could offer him the chance for a final campaign in the Champions League.

Trabzonspor, by contrast, are generally viewed as the fourth-biggest side in Turkey, behind Istanbul giants Fenerbahce, Galatasaray, and Besiktas.

Based in the city of Trabzon, on the Black Sea, Trabzonspor have been champions of Turkey seven times, with their most recent title coming in 2021-22.

Managed by former Turkey international Fatih Tekke, Trabzonspor finished third in Super Lig last season – behind champions Galatasaray and runners-up Fenerbahce.

They are yet to qualify for the Europa League league phase, and face a two-legged play-off this month – so European football is by no means a guarantee.

Should Salah sign for Trabzonspor, the Egypt captain would instantly become the club’s biggest signing. Former Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge and former Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe are among their ex-players.

Their current squad includes on-loan Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana, as well as a couple of Cape Verde’s World Cup stars: Wagner Pina and Sidny Lopes Cabral, who scored their stunning goal against Argentina.

As Salah is a free transfer, Trabzonspor would have been able to commit more of their transfer budget towards Salah’s wages. His last contract at Liverpool was enormous and reported to be worth £400,000 per week.

As one of the sport’s biggest global stars, Salah offers huge upside to Trabzonspor and their sponsors commercially. Trabzonspor’s main shirt sponsor, financial services company Papapa, also holds naming rights for their stadium.

Salah has been pictured wearing Trabzonspor’s colours and is set to arrive in the city on Wednesday before signing his contract. “Trabzon, are you ready? See you very soon,” he said in a video shot onboard a private jet and posted on social media on Wednesday.