Trabzonspor unveil Mohamed Salah after summer transfer stand-off

Mohamed Salah has joined Trabzonspor, becoming the fourth Egyptian footballer to wear the Turkish club’s shirt.

Trabzonspor officially announced the signing on Wednesday, publishing images of the Egypt captain wearing the team’s colours on a plane travelling to Turkey. The pictures were released as the club prepared to formally confirm the transfer and introduce Salah to supporters and the media.

The move represents one of the most notable deals of the summer transfer window in Turkey and brings an end to uncertainty surrounding the forward’s next club.

Reports in Turkey had previously said Salah reached an agreement with Trabzonspor on a two-year contract. The club’s announcement confirmed that the long-running speculation over his future had now been resolved, although the initial reports had provided the main details of the proposed agreement.

Salah’s arrival also places him in a select group of Egyptian players who have represented Trabzonspor. Before him, Ayman Abdelaziz, Sayed Moawad and Mahmoud Hassan “Trezeguet” had all played for the Turkish side.

The transfer follows weeks of indecision for Salah, who had been weighing up several options in the Saudi Pro League as well as a possible move to another Turkish club.

Besiktas had come particularly close to signing him and were regarded as leading contenders for his services. However, negotiations broke down after the two sides failed to agree on the financial terms.

Besiktas officials described the demands as excessive, preventing the club from completing a deal despite having been close to securing Salah’s signature.

Instead, the Egypt captain has chosen Trabzonspor, where his arrival gives the club a high-profile addition and adds his name to the short list of Egyptian players who have previously represented the team.

The announcement was accompanied by photographs of Salah in the Trabzonspor shirt during his journey to Turkey, ahead of his official presentation to the club’s supporters and the media. It marked the public conclusion of a transfer saga that had linked the player with both Saudi Pro League clubs and Besiktas.

For Trabzonspor, the signing makes Salah the latest Egyptian to join their ranks. For the player, it opens a new chapter in his career in the Turkish league after he considered a number of alternatives during the summer window.