The story began with a text sent during the World Cup. Ertugrul Dogan, the president of Trabzonspor, was watching a match featuring Egypt when he decided to reach out to his manager, Fatih Tekke, with an intriguing message: “Coach, do you want Mohamed Salah?”
Tekke responded with palpable excitement, although Trabzonspor’s initial interest in Salah went largely unnoticed. For several weeks, Besiktas appeared to be the frontrunner for the former Liverpool striker. In Turkish football, the three major clubs based in Istanbul—Galatasaray, Fenerbahce, and Besiktas—have long dominated the Süper Lig in terms of financial resources and cultural significance.
Despite not being the capital, Istanbul is considered the financial and cultural nucleus of Turkey. Consequently, Salah’s choice to sign with Trabzonspor was unexpected. While Trabzonspor is part of Turkey’s traditional “Big Four” alongside their Istanbul counterparts, the northeastern port city lacks the international flair that Istanbul provides. Instead, Trabzon is characterized by its deep-rooted passion for football, with most Turkish cities lacking a local football identity and instead supporting one of the major Istanbul clubs from a distance. Trabzon, however, stands out as a city where the community lives and breathes for its local team.
Trabzon can be likened to Newcastle in the UK: a proud, working-class city in the northeast with a rich maritime history, closely linked to its football club, and striving to carve out a new identity in a rapidly evolving world.
The signing of Salah has brought much-needed attention to a city that often feels politically and geographically marginalized. This transfer transcends the realm of football; it represents an opportunity for Trabzon to revitalize itself as a center for maritime trade, tourism, and logistics. The presence of the Egyptian star is likely to amplify the city’s visibility on the global stage.
The scenes at Trabzon airport on Wednesday were chaotic, as supporters transformed the terminal into a spectacle with red flares, followed by tens of thousands gathering at Papara Park for his unveiling ceremony—an impressive display of their enthusiasm.
Salah had the option to consider lucrative offers from leagues such as the Saudi Pro League or Major League Soccer, but their fan engagement does not compare favorably to that of Trabzonspor. Importantly, at 34 years old, he remains in a competitive league within the UEFA zone, where Trabzonspor only needs to navigate the playoff rounds to secure a spot in the Europa League.
During his signing ceremony, Salah expressed his astonishment at the reception he received, stating, “I am seeing a reception like this for the first time in my life. I came here to win trophies. I am here to bring titles to this club.”
Historically, Trabzonspor has been a disruptor in Turkish football, challenging the dominance of Istanbul clubs since the 1970s and most recently claiming the league title in the 2021-22 season. However, never before has a player of Salah’s stature chosen Trabzon over Istanbul.
The Turkish league is undergoing a revival, with players like Leandro Trossard joining Besiktas after a successful season with Arsenal, Victor Osimhen leading Galatasaray’s attack, and Nathan Aké and Mason Greenwood now playing for Fenerbahce. Furthermore, the league is nurturing exceptional homegrown talent, exemplified by Arda Güler at Real Madrid and Ferdi Kadıoglu at Brighton.
Trabzonspor’s pursuit of Salah was conducted discreetly. The club enlisted the help of former winger Mahmoud Hassan, known as Trézéguet, who acted as a liaison to persuade Salah, communicating with him daily to facilitate the transfer.
There was also a cultural aspect to consider, as moving to a welcoming, predominantly Muslim country would allow Salah and his family to feel comfortable. Trabzonspor secured Salah with a two-year contract extending through June 2028, with financial details disclosed on the Public Disclosure Platform (KAP). He will earn an annual base salary of €10 million (£8.5 million) along with a guaranteed €7 million signing bonus, amounting to €17 million per season (€34 million net over two years).
Given that salaries in Turkey are paid net, with the club covering tax obligations, Salah effectively takes home 50% more than his previous contract with Liverpool. The agreement also includes performance-related bonuses, a 5% agent fee on gross salaries, and a remarkable image rights arrangement granting Salah a 20% royalty on all personal merchandise sold through the club’s official retail network.
The commercial impact was immediate, with Trabzonspor selling over 17,000 season tickets within 24 hours of Salah’s arrival, generating approximately £11 million. President Dogan has indicated that projected revenue from ticket sales, sponsorships, and merchandise during Salah’s tenure could reach £22 million, effectively financing the transfer.
Importantly, Trabzonspor has not overstretched financially. With around €95 million raised from player sales in the past season, the transfer is sustainable. Salah joins a team on an upward trajectory under Tekke, who took over when the club was in 13th place in March 2025. The team has since improved, finishing third, just eight points behind champions Galatasaray, and clinching the Turkish Cup.
In addition to Salah, Trabzonspor has added Valencia defender Cenk Özkaçar and Manchester United loanee André Onana in goal, and they are in discussions to acquire Darwin Núñez.
Taking on the coveted No. 10 shirt, Salah steps into a team that is on the rise. However, the challenges ahead are significant. Galatasaray has won four consecutive league titles, and both Besiktas and Fenerbahce have made substantial investments this summer. Trabzonspor hopes that Salah’s presence will act as a catalyst for a shift in fortunes.
For Trabzon and the surrounding region, Salah’s signing represents much more than a mere transfer; it signals a potential resurgence for the Black Sea Storm.
