Egypt star Mohamed Salah receives hero’s welcome as he arrives in Turkey to seal Trabzonspor move

Egyptian football superstar Mohamed Salah has arrived in Istanbul to seal a move to Turkish club Trabzonspor following Liverpool departure.

Salah ended his nine-year spell with Premier League giants at the end of the season despite having a year left on his contract.

The 34-year-old forward has already landed at Istanbul’s Atatürk Airport, where he received a hero’s welcome from hundreds of enthusiastic Trabzonspor supporters who gathered to celebrate the arrival of one of the biggest names in world football.

Salah is expected to undergo his medical examination in Istanbul before travelling to Trabzon later on Wednesday to complete the final stages of the transfer.

The Egyptian forward will sign a two-year contract with an option for an additional season. He is also expected to earn a significant salary package, with several outlets reporting an annual wage of around €17 million.

The move represents a major statement of ambition from Trabzonspor, who are looking to challenge Turkey’s traditional powerhouses and build a squad capable of competing domestically and in European competitions.

The club, which secured qualification for the Europa League play-offs, remains one of the most successful teams outside Istanbul and famously became the first Anatolian club to consistently challenge the dominance of Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe and Beşiktaş.

Trabzonspor last lifted the Turkish league title in 2022 and will hope Salah’s arrival can help them return to the top of Turkish football.

For Salah, the move marks the beginning of a new chapter after a historic career at Liverpool. The Egyptian winger left Anfield as a club legend, having scored 257 goals and provided 123 assists in 442 appearances across all competitions.

Since joining Liverpool from Roma in 2017, Salah played a central role in one of the most successful eras in the club’s history. He helped the Reds win two Premier League titles, the UEFA Champions League, the FIFA Club World Cup and several other major trophies.

His individual achievements have also been extraordinary. Salah became one of the Premier League’s most consistent attacking players, winning the Golden Boot multiple times and breaking numerous scoring records during his time in England.

At international level, Salah remains a national hero in Egypt. The forward has scored 68 goals in 121 appearances for the Pharaohs and continues to be regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of Egyptian football.

Despite a less impressive final season at Liverpool compared to his previous standards, Salah’s reputation and popularity have remained untouched, particularly among supporters at Anfield who continue to hold him in the highest regard.

Known worldwide as the “Egyptian King”, Salah now begins a fresh challenge in Turkey, where Trabzonspor supporters will hope his experience, leadership and goals can help the club compete for major honours once again.