Mohamed Salah has begun a new chapter in his career after agreeing a two-year deal with Turkish side Trabzonspor, ending his nine-year association with Liverpool. The move, confirmed on a free transfer, will see the Egyptian forward earn around €17m (£14.5m) per season, according to a statement the club filed with the Turkish stock exchange. Salah will also receive a 20% cut of revenue generated from merchandise sold under his name, along with performance-related bonuses whose exact terms have not been disclosed.
The 34-year-old's arrival in Turkey follows a turbulent final season at Anfield, where his relationship with then-manager Arne Slot deteriorated amid a public disagreement. Salah was left out of the squad for Liverpool's Champions League defeat to Galatasaray in September and was subsequently dropped from the starting lineup in November, a decision that appeared to foreshadow his eventual departure. Despite the friction, he still managed 12 goals across all competitions last season as Liverpool finished fifth in the Premier League, a stark contrast to his previous campaign when he scored 34 goals and provided 23 assists as the club won the title.
Salah leaves Liverpool having scored 257 goals in 442 appearances, winning two Premier League titles and the Champions League during his time at the club. His departure leaves a significant void in Liverpool's attack, one the club has yet to fill despite reportedly pursuing other targets, including a failed £100m bid for Yan Diomande, who opted to join Real Madrid from RB Leipzig instead.
Rather than pursuing a move to Saudi Arabia, where Al-Ittihad had shown long-standing interest and MLS side Sporting Kansas City had also made overtures, Salah chose to remain in a European footballing environment. Trabzonspor, who finished third in last season's Super Lig and are set to compete in this month's Europa League play-offs, offered him the chance to continue playing continental football. A defeat in the play-off round against either Ferencvaros or Gornik Zabrze would send the club into the Conference League instead.
Salah's unveiling in Trabzon drew large, enthusiastic crowds, with supporters gathering to welcome him even before his arrival in the city. He briefly wore the number 61 shirt during the ceremony — a nod to the city's vehicle registration code and a number with deep symbolic meaning for the fanbase, tied to the tradition of celebrating the 61st minute of matches. For the upcoming season, however, he will wear his familiar number 10, after teammate Ernest Muci agreed to give up the shirt as a mark of respect.
Former Rangers midfielder Ryan Jack, who has played in Turkey for the past two seasons, said the passionate reception was typical of Turkish football culture.