Mohamed Salah has completed a stunning move to Turkish Super Lig side Trabzonspor, bringing an end to one of the greatest careers in Liverpool’s history.
Trabzonspor confirmed they had opened negotiations with the Egyptian superstar before finalising the free-transfer deal, with Salah joining the club after mutually agreeing to end his Liverpool contract a year early. The 34-year-old is expected to sign a two-year contract after completing his medical.
Salah leaves Anfield after nine unforgettable years in which he established himself as one of Liverpool’s all-time greats.
During his time on Merseyside, the Egypt international scored 257 goals in 442 appearances, making him Liverpool’s third-highest goalscorer. He also helped the Reds win seven major trophies, including two Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League.
His departure comes just over a year after signing a contract extension, but both Salah and Liverpool agreed to terminate the final year of the deal following a difficult campaign that saw the forward lose his regular starting place and publicly clash with then-head coach Arne Slot.
For much of the past two years, Saudi Arabian clubs were widely expected to land Salah.
Liverpool famously rejected a £150 million offer from Al Ittihad in 2023, and the Saudi Pro League remained interested after he became available on a free transfer. However, Salah has instead chosen to continue his career in Europe by joining Trabzonspor.
Trabzonspor finished third in the Turkish Super Lig last season and will compete in the UEFA Europa League play-offs, offering Salah the chance to continue playing European football.
Former Premier League defender John Curtis believes finances played a role in Salah’s decision, although he admitted the move came as a surprise.
“The obvious one is the money. I’m sure. I think it’s rumoured to be 17m a year or something like that.
“So you know that translates to a little bit less maybe than he was earning at Liverpool, and probably significantly less than he could have got in Saudi Arabia.
“It’s very easy to play with top players. So, is this a step down? Obviously, those players are very good players, but most Salah is used to working with the very best, and that impacts you as a player. So, again, it becomes a little bit of a shock.”
Trabzonspor hope Salah’s arrival will transform their ambitions both domestically and in Europe, with the Egyptian expected to become the biggest signing in the club’s history.
