Salah mobbed at airport before Trabzonspor move

Trabzonspor, a Turkish football club based in Trabzon, are set to announce the signing of Mohamed Salah, the captain of the Egyptian national team. Hundreds of supporters gathered outside Ataturk Airport in Istanbul on Wednesday as Salah arrived wearing Trabzonspor's colors and interacted with the enthusiastic crowd. The 34-year-old forward departed Liverpool at the end of last season after a nine-year tenure, scoring 257 goals during his time at Merseyside.

Trabzonspor will reveal the exact terms of Salah's contract, but as he is a free agent, they have been able to allocate more of their budget to his wages. Salah, who has netted 50 goals in the Champions League, will contribute to European football with Trabzonspor in the upcoming season, as they finished third in the league, eight points behind champions Galatasaray.

If they fail to qualify for the league phase of the Europa League through the play-offs, Trabzonspor will participate in the Conference League instead. Salah became Liverpool's highest earner in the club's history when he signed a reported £400,000-a-week deal in April 2025. Trabzonspor plans to host a signing ceremony for Salah at Papara Park on Thursday at 17:30 BST, inviting fans to wear the new season's shirts to witness history with Salah being introduced as the club's new number 10.

Nicknamed the "Black Sea Storm," Trabzonspor has won seven league titles, six of which were claimed between 1976 and 1984. In 2022, they achieved their most recent league success, ending a 38-year drought. Trabzonspor's signing of Salah will mark the club's most significant acquisition, joining former Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge and former Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe, who also donned the claret and sky blue shirt.

Salah's arrival is poised to reignite passion among Trabzonspor supporters and elevate the club's commercial appeal across the Middle East, particularly among the Arab community in Trabzon and visitors to the city.