Mohamed Salah Welcomed in Istanbul as Move to Trabzonspor Nears Completion
Mohamed Salah received a warm welcome in Istanbul on Wednesday while he gets closer to joining Trabzonspor after leaving Liverpool. The Egyptian forward arrived at Ataturk Airport dressed in Trabzonspor’s iconic burgundy and blue colors, attracting a huge crowd eager to see the former Liverpool star.
Salah took a moment to greet the excited fans, waving at them and even participating in a traditional chant before heading off for his medical check-up.
After the medical, Salah is expected to travel to Trabzon, where his transfer could be finalized as early as Thursday. Trabzonspor confirmed on Tuesday that they were in talks with Salah, and club president Ertugrul Dogan expressed optimism about signing the 34-year-old on a free transfer. However, they have not yet shared the specifics of the contract.
This transfer would conclude Salah’s impressive nine-year journey at Liverpool. During his time there, he scored 257 goals in 442 matches and played a crucial role in winning two league titles and the Champions League.
In the 2024-25 season, Salah had an outstanding performance, netting 29 goals in the Premier League and providing 18 assists. His 47 goal contributions set a new record for a single season and matched the all-time high for the league.
His incredible efforts earned him the Premier League Player of the Season title along with both the Golden Boot and Playmaker awards, making him the first player to achieve this trio of honors in a single season.
The following season proved to be more challenging for Salah. He recorded seven goals and seven assists in 27 league matches, and at times found himself starting from the bench in Champions League games. This frustration led to a public disagreement with then-Liverpool manager Arne Slot.
Salah kicked off his European career in 2012 with Swiss team Basel and later joined Chelsea. After short stints at Fiorentina and Roma, he found his stride with Liverpool in 2017, establishing himself as one of the league’s top forwards.
Trabzonspor, recognized as one of Turkey’s major clubs outside of Istanbul’s trio—Fenerbahce, Galatasaray, and Besiktas—finished third in the Super Lig last season, securing a spot in the Europa League playoffs.
The Black Sea club last claimed the Turkish league title during the 2021-22 season. Salah had also been rumored to move to Besiktas, but negotiations reportedly fell through over financial and image-rights issues, according to Turkish media.
Published On: August 5, 2026
