Egyptian football star receives hero's welcome by Turkish fans following transfer PHOTO/VIDEO

Egyptian football star Mohamed Salah received a rapturous welcome in Trabzon after completing a surprise free transfer to the Turkish city's home club, ending his nine-year spell at Liverpool.

The 34-year-old officially signed a two-year contract on August 6 during a ceremony at the Trabzonspor club's Papara Park stadium. In a filing to the Turkish stock exchange, Trabzonspor said Salah will earn €17 million per season and receive 20% of the revenue generated from Salah-branded merchandise.

Thousands of supporters turned out to greet the Egyptian forward, packing the home venue for his unveiling while many more gathered outside the 40,000-seat stadium.

Addressing the crowd, Salah spoke of his excitement at the reception. "I wish I could speak Turkish, but I can't. So let me express my feelings this way: I have never experienced anything like this," Salah said with a broad smile, as Turkish media outlets cite.

"You have shown an incredible amount of love yesterday and today. Thank you all so much. I am incredibly happy. I am here to win."

🎥❤️💙 pic.twitter.com/aStIqmsTp9

— Trabzonspor (@Trabzonspor) August 6, 2026

Salah leaves Liverpool as one of the club's greatest modern players, having scored 257 goals in 442 appearances while winning two Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League. His role diminished during the final months of last season, however, as he found himself on the bench for several European matches amid a public disagreement with then-manager Arne Slot.

Trabzonspor, widely viewed as Türkiye's fourth-largest club behind Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe and Beşiktaş, finished third in last season's Süper Lig to qualify for the UEFA Europa League play-off round. 

Salah is expected to make his league debut on August 15 in an away match against Kasımpaşa. Five days later, he could make his first appearance at Papara Park before Trabzonspor begin their Europa League play-off campaign.

Choosing Europe over lucrative alternatives

Salah's signature was one of the most sought-after in world football as his Liverpool contract neared its end. Clubs from Saudi Arabia's Pro League and Major League Soccer in the United States were among those hoping to secure the Egyptian in their squad.

His decision to join Trabzonspor has somewhat surprised fans and analysts, who expected him either to move to one of Europe's traditional elite clubs or accept a lucrative offer outside the continent. Industry observers believe the opportunity to continue competing in the European UEFA competitions played a decisive role in his choice after helping Egypt reach the knockout stage of this summer's FIFA World Cup and enjoying one of the strongest seasons of his career in 2024-25.

Within Türkiye, Trabzonspor might also be viewed as an unexpected choice, as most internationally renowned players have traditionally gravitated towards Istanbul's "big three"—Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe and Beşiktaş. The latter reportedly held talks with Salah before negotiations broke down over the financial structure of the deal, paving the way for Trabzonspor to complete the signing. The club last won the Turkish league title in 2022 and has been crowned national champion seven times, making it a worthy contender.

Salah's arrival is the latest indication of the Turkish Süper Lig's growing appeal to established international stars.

Victor Osimhen, Leroy Sané, İlkay Gündoğan, Nathan Aké and Leandro Trossard are among the high-profile players now competing in Türkiye's top flight, while Trabzonspor's squad already includes André Onana, Ruslan Malinovskyi and Stefan Savić.

Last summer, the Süper Lig recorded the third-highest net transfer spending in world football, behind only the English Premier League and Saudi Pro League, underlining the league's increasing financial ambition and international profile.

By Nazrin Sadigova