Mohamed Salah signs two-year deal with Trabzonspor after Liverpool exit

Egyptian football star Mohamed Salah has officially signed a two-year deal with Turkish club Trabzonspor, marking his departure from Premier League champions Liverpool. The 34-year-old international concluded his contract with Liverpool at the end of the season and has agreed to a "two-year agreement" with Trabzonspor, a team competing in the Europa League play-off round.

As the second-highest paid player in the Premier League last season, Salah will earn an impressive €17 million (US$19.6 million) annually, with bonuses included, setting a record for the Turkish league. In addition, he will receive a 20% share of revenue from jersey and merchandise sales featuring his name.

Salah was greeted as a hero by thousands of fans in Trabzon, a northeastern city in Turkey, and is scheduled to participate in a signing ceremony with supporters at the club's stadium later on Thursday. Speaking on Wednesday, Salah expressed his excitement about joining Trabzonspor, stating that he is eager to train with the team and hopes for success both in the league and in European competitions. The Egyptian captain, who will wear the number 10 shirt, has previously played in Egypt, Switzerland, Italy, and England.

During his nine-year tenure at Liverpool, Salah scored 257 goals in 442 appearances across all competitions, making him the club's third-highest goalscorer. He won two Premier League titles and a Champions League trophy with the Reds, while also netting 193 Premier League goals. Salah's popularity remained high despite a less stellar performance during Liverpool's struggling season last year, where he scored only seven league goals.

He last played in the World Cup, where Egypt reached the last 16 for the first time since 1934, before losing to eventual runners-up Argentina. Salah has also been linked with Trabzonspor's Super Lig rivals Besiktas, who finished third in the Turkish top flight last season, nine points ahead of Besiktas, securing their place in the Europa League play-off round.