Trabzonspor president delighted as Mohamed Salah receives ‘world-class’ welcome

Trabzonspor president Ertugrul Dogan says his club’s supporters showed the world how to welcome a global football star after Mohamed Salah arrived in Turkey to complete his move from Liverpool.

Dogan said he was delighted by the agreement to sign the Egypt international, adding that his main ambition had been to give Trabzonspor fans the chance to watch a world-renowned player represent their team.

Trabzonspor announced on Tuesday that it had begun negotiations with Salah, paving the way for the formal confirmation of the transfer. The club has now continued preparations for the player’s arrival and finalising his move.

“I would like to thank our supporters who came here,” Dogan told reporters.

“Mohamed Salah is a global star, and our fans showed everyone how to welcome a global star.”

Dogan also rejected the idea that the deal had been intended as a statement aimed at other clubs or individuals.

“My aim in signing Mohamed Salah was not to teach anyone else a lesson,” he said.

“My aim was to give Trabzonspor fans a global star.”

Salah wore a Trabzonspor shirt for the first time while on the plane, immediately after arriving at Istanbul Airport in Turkey. The moment came as supporters prepared to welcome the former Liverpool forward ahead of the next stages of his transfer.

The 34-year-old also addressed Trabzonspor fans directly, signalling his excitement at meeting them for the first time.

“Trabzon, are you ready? I can hear you, and I will see you for the first time,” Salah said in a message to supporters.

Salah is due to undergo a medical examination in Trabzon before signing his contract with the Turkish club. His move will become official once the medical and contractual procedures have been completed.

The Egypt captain is set to sign a two-year contract with Trabzonspor. He will earn 17m euros per season, in addition to other clauses and bonuses included in the agreement.

Dogan’s comments came after a notable reception for Salah’s arrival, with the Trabzonspor president placing the focus on the connection between the player and the club’s supporters. Rather than presenting the transfer as a competitive intervention aimed at others, he described it as a gift to the team’s fanbase.

Trabzonspor’s announcement that negotiations had begun came just one day before Salah’s arrival in Turkey. The club is now awaiting the completion of his medical examination and the signing of the documents that will confirm his two-season stay.

The former Liverpool player’s first appearance in a Trabzonspor shirt, even before the transfer has been formally completed, offered an early indication of the scale of the excitement surrounding the deal.