Trabzonspor president says Mohamed Salah deal has already generated more than half its cost

Trabzonspor president Ertugrul Dogan has denied reports that Mohamed Salah’s wages at the Turkish club have been seized because of outstanding debts, saying supporters have already covered more than half the cost of the deal through season-ticket purchases.

Trabzonspor announced the signing of Salah on a free transfer, with the former Liverpool forward agreeing a two-season contract.

Speaking to Turkish broadcaster HT Spor, Dogan dismissed the reports about Salah’s salary and said legal action had been started against those responsible for publishing them.

“News about Salah’s salary being seized is very funny. We have filed a lawsuit against those who published these reports, or rather, we have lodged a complaint against them. This matter is proceeding separately. Something like that is impossible; there is absolutely no problem of this kind,” he said.

He added: “Turkish football cannot progress with this type of reporting. It is shameful. We have begun the necessary legal procedures against those responsible.”

Dogan said the transfer reflected the expectations of supporters in Trabzon and the club’s head coach.

“Trabzon supporters had these kinds of expectations of me. There was a desire to make a signing of this sort. I will speak frankly: the people of Trabzon were waiting for a deal like this, our manager had the same expectation and the president fulfilled that wish,” he said.

The Trabzonspor president also claimed the club’s supporters had made a significant financial contribution within a few days of the announcement.

“The only thing I trust is our supporters and our club family. Up to this point, in approximately three days – and let us say we include today as well – we have sold season tickets worth 550m Turkish lira,” Dogan said.

“I am stating the figures as they are. I am not including shirt sales here because those figures are not currently available; we will receive them at the beginning of the week. I thank our supporters. They lived up to expectations and did not let us down. More than half of the cost of the deal has been provided.”

Dogan said Salah had been surprised by the welcome he received in Trabzon and praised the impact of the transfer on the city’s international profile.

“Our supporters have proved the saying that we are the biggest city team in the world. Salah himself was surprised by what he saw and was very impressed by the atmosphere. In the end, he said to me, ‘Thank God you brought us here, and thank God you put me in front of these people,’” he said.

“For the city of Trabzon, it would not have been possible to secure this global promotion for 17m euros, or even for 50m euros.”

Dogan also addressed reports about Salah’s accommodation after the forward joined the club.

He said Trabzonspor had several homes available for its players and that Salah was staying in the same property previously occupied by Anthony Nwakaeme.

“Regarding Salah’s house, we have some homes agreed in Trabzon. Let me clarify the matter. For example, the house where Salah is currently staying is the same house Nwakaeme used before,” Dogan said.

“We already have seven or eight homes. They are ordinary villas, far removed from the images that were circulated. I do not know where such houses are in Trabzon; I do not even know whether they exist. But I believe some people are upset by the Salah deal and his arrival in Trabzon, so they are making up these lies.”

Salah has joined Trabzonspor’s training sessions as the club prepares for the 2026-27 season.