A late-night text message sent during last year's World Cup set in motion one of the most surprising transfers Turkish football has seen in decades. Trabzonspor president Ertugrul Dogan reached out to his manager Fatih Tekke with a simple question about pursuing Mohamed Salah, and what followed has ended with the Egyptian superstar signing for the Black Sea club rather than one of Istanbul's traditional powerhouses.
For much of the transfer saga, Besiktas appeared the most likely destination for the former Liverpool forward, as Istanbul's Big Three of Galatasaray, Fenerbahce and Besiktas have historically dominated the market for the league's biggest names. Trabzonspor's interest, by contrast, was pursued quietly and largely escaped public attention until the deal was done.
The choice stunned observers given Istanbul's status as Turkey's commercial and cultural hub. Trabzonspor, though part of the country's historic Big Four, operate from a port city on the eastern Black Sea coast that lacks the cosmopolitan draw of Istanbul but compensates with an intensely loyal fanbase — one of few in Turkey with a strong local identity rather than allegiance to the Istanbul giants.
The scale of that devotion was on display when Salah landed in Trabzon. Supporters flooded the airport with flares, and tens of thousands packed Papara Park for his official presentation. Speaking to the crowd, Salah said, "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."
Behind the scenes, former Trabzonspor winger Mahmoud Hassan, known as Trézéguet, played a key role in persuading his international teammate to make the move, holding daily conversations with Salah throughout the negotiations. The prospect of relocating to a Muslim-majority country where he and his family could settle comfortably was reportedly also a factor, alongside the appeal of staying in a competitive European league — Trabzonspor need only get past Europa League qualifying rounds to reach the competition's main stage.
The financial terms of the deal, disclosed through Turkey's Public Disclosure Platform, are substantial. Salah signed a two-year contract through June 2028 worth a base salary of €10m plus a €7m signing bonus annually, totalling €17m per season, or €34m net over the contract's length. Because Turkish clubs pay wages net of tax, Salah's actual take-home pay is reportedly around 50% higher than his final Liverpool deal. The agreement also includes a 20% royalty on merchandise sales through the club's official retail channels.
The commercial impact was immediate — Trabzonspor sold more than 17,000 season tickets within 24 hours of Salah's arrival, generating roughly £11m. Dogan has projected total revenue from tickets, sponsorships and merchandise during Salah's tenure could reach around £22m, effectively covering the cost of the transfer. The club say the deal is financially sustainable, aided by approximately €95m generated through player sales over the past year.
Salah joins a Trabzonspor side on the rise under Tekke, who took charge in March 2025 with the club languishing in 13th place before guiding them to third and a Turkish Cup triumph. The squad has also been strengthened this summer by the additions of defender Cenk Özkaçar and goalkeeper André Onana on loan from Manchester United, with reports suggesting talks are ongoing for striker Darwin Núñez.
Despite the momentum, Trabzonspor face a tough task in dislodging Galatasaray, winners of four straight league titles, while Besiktas and Fenerbahce have also invested heavily this summer. Still, for a city hoping to reassert itself as a hub for trade, tourism and logistics, Salah's arrival represents far more than a football transfer — it is seen as a potential turning point for the entire region.
Based on reporting from Guardian Football.