Mohamed Salah was mobbed by hundreds of fans at Ataturk Airport in Istanbul on Wednesday as he arrived in Turkey ahead of his expected transfer to Trabzonspor. The 34-year-old Egypt captain, dressed in the club's colours, interacted briefly with the crowd before leaving the airport. Salah left Liverpool at the end of the previous season after nine years with the club, during which he scored 257 goals and became the highest-paid player in its history with a reported £400,000-a-week contract signed in April 2025. Trabzonspor will confirm his signing at a ceremony scheduled for Thursday at 17:30 BST at Papara Park, where supporters are encouraged to wear the new season's shirts. As a free agent, Salah's move allows Trabzonspor to allocate more of their wage budget to his salary. The club finished third in the Super Lig last season, eight points behind champions Galatasaray, earning a spot in Europa League play-offs; failure to advance would relegate them to the Conference League. Salah has scored 50 goals in the Champions League during his career.
The spectacle at the airport suggests Trabzonspor is treating Salah's arrival as a historic moment, though the club has not disclosed financial terms or contract length. The absence of confirmed details about his salary or role raises questions about how his presence will translate into on-field impact. Trabzonspor's European campaign next season hinges on navigating the play-offs, with Salah expected to lead their continental charge.
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