How Trabzonspor shocked Turkish rivals to make Mohamed Salah their Black Sea saviour
Trabzonspor pulled off a major coup in Turkish football by signing former Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah, choosing to move to the Black Sea city over the more commonly favoured Istanbul giants Galatasaray, Fenerbahce and Besiktas. The deal, initiated by club president Ertugrul Dogan via a text message to manager Fatih Tekke during the World Cup, marks the first time a player of Salah's stature has snubbed Istanbul's financial and cultural dominance for Trabzon, and is seen as a symbolic boost for a city seeking to raise its profile as a maritime trade, tourism and logistics hub.
Besiktas had appeared the frontrunners for much of the negotiations before Trabzonspor's approach paid off, with the 34-year-old Egyptian turning down reportedly lucrative offers from the Saudi Pro League and Major League Soccer to remain in a competitive Uefa-zone league. His arrival triggered scenes of huge fan fervour, including chaotic celebrations at Trabzon airport and tens of thousands of supporters packing Papara Park for his unveiling. Salah, who said he had never experienced such a reception, joins a Trabzonspor side that last won the Süper Lig title in 2021-22 and must now navigate Europa League playoff rounds.
- Mohamed Salah signs for Trabzonspor instead of an Istanbul club
- First big-name player to choose Trabzon over Istanbul's giants
- Massive fan celebrations greeted his arrival in the Black Sea city
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Trabzonspor is a Turkish football club based in the Black Sea coastal city of Trabzon, historically overshadowed by the "big three" Istanbul clubs, Galatasaray, Fenerbahce and Besiktas, who dominate Turkish football's money, media attention and top signings. Mohamed Salah is an Egyptian forward who spent years as one of the Premier League's most prolific players at Liverpool before recently leaving the club. His transfer to Trabzonspor is notable partly because of his profile and partly because he chose a provincial club over Istanbul or a move to Saudi Arabia or the United States, where many top players nearing the end of their careers have gone.
The move matters both in football terms and beyond it. For Trabzonspor, landing a player of Salah's calibre is seen as a major statement, potentially strengthening the club's push for domestic and European success after it last won Turkey's top league in 2021-22. For Trabzon as a city, the signing is being framed as a wider symbolic and economic boost, feeding into ambitions to raise its international profile as a hub for shipping, tourism and trade.
Salah's arrival has generated intense public excitement in Trabzon, with large crowds turning out to welcome him, reflecting how significant the transfer is seen to be for a club and a city not used to attracting players of this stature.