Mohamed Salah arrival could unlock Paul Onuachu’s full potential at Trabzonspor

Mohamed Salah’s arrival at Trabzonspor could give Paul Onuachu the creative support needed to build on his outstanding 2025-26 campaign, after the Nigerian striker finished as one of the Turkish league’s leading scorers.

Onuachu scored 22 goals in 30 Süper Lig appearances last season, finishing joint top scorer alongside Eldor Shomurodov. His overall record was even more impressive, with the Nigeria international finding the net 26 times in 36 appearances across all competitions.

The striker’s numbers came despite not having a consistent provider creating chances for him throughout the campaign. Pina supplied three assists for his goals, while Zubkov and Oulai each provided two. The other six players involved in creating his goals contributed just once each.

That could change significantly with Salah now alongside him.

The Egyptian has built a reputation not only as a prolific goalscorer but also as one of the most effective creators in modern football.

During his time at Liverpool, Salah produced 94 Premier League assists, including 93 for the Reds, making him the club’s record assist provider in the competition.

Across his Liverpool career, he recorded 257 goals and 123 assists in 441 appearances in all competitions. His creative numbers were particularly strong during the 2024-25 campaign, when he registered 18 Premier League assists alongside 29 goals.

The potential partnership with Onuachu appears particularly intriguing because of the contrasting qualities of the two players.

Salah traditionally operates from the right side before moving inside, where he can create opportunities for teammates with passes and deliveries into the penalty area. Onuachu, standing at around 1.99m, provides a significant aerial presence and offers a clear target for crosses and passes into dangerous areas.

That combination could give the Nigerian more opportunities to add to his 22 league goals from last season.

The pair will also have several competitions in which to develop their understanding. Trabzonspor are due to compete in the Süper Lig, the Turkish Cup and the Europa League after finishing third in the league and securing a place in the European qualifying rounds.

The club also enters the campaign as Turkish Cup holders after winning the competition in May 2026.

For Onuachu, the arrival of a player with Salah’s creative record presents an opportunity to become even more productive in front of goal. For Trabzonspor, the prospect of combining one of the league’s most prolific strikers with an experienced playmaker could make their attack one of the most closely watched in Turkey.

The potential is clear. Onuachu has already demonstrated his ability to score consistently, while Salah has repeatedly shown his ability to create chances for teammates. Whether that combination produces the expected results will now be decided on the pitch.