Trabzonspor president Ertugrul Dogan has revealed how the Turkish club persuaded Mohamed Salah to join, describing the move as a coup built on the passion of the club's supporters rather than sporting pedigree. Salah signed a two-year deal and was unveiled in front of 35,000 fans at Papara Park, with Dogan arguing that the Black Sea club's fervent, singularly-devoted fanbase and the appeal of Salah as a Muslim role model helped outweigh the absence of Champions League football at a club that has won only one Turkish title since its 1970s-80s heyday.

Dogan, who became president in 2023 and has overseen third, seventh and third-place league finishes plus a Turkish Cup win last season, said he told Salah the city of Trabzon, though not among Turkey's 20 largest, offered a unique intensity of support. The club has also been reshaping its squad, selling young talents Christ Inao Oulai and Felipe Augusto for profit while bringing in prospects from Albania, Belgium, Cape Verde and Portugal, alongside experienced figures such as goalkeeper Andre Onana, on loan again from Manchester United. Salah's arrival is seen as the club's biggest gamechanger yet as it also pursues Europa League qualification, despite a 1-0 first-leg defeat to Ferencvaros.