Mohamed Salah finds a new life in Turkey after leaving Liverpool for Trabzonspor
A city embraces its new star
Salah arrived in Istanbul in August wearing Trabzonspor’s burgundy and blue shirt, where thousands of fans had gathered to welcome him. President Ertugrul Dogan suggested he switch to the black away strip, which also sold out.
The excitement has spread through Trabzon. Journalist Hasan Tuncel says most fans he sees wearing club shirts have Salah’s name on them, while a club-shop worker jokes that the ground floor is devoted to the Egyptian.
New routes and local landmarks
For supporters across the Arab world, travelling to see Salah at Liverpool could be difficult, and tickets were often hard to obtain. Since his arrival, new flights from Cairo, Dubai and Riyadh have made travel to Turkey more accessible.
A hike in the Trabzon highlands has also become a draw: the rock where Salah posed for a photograph is now called Salahtasi, or Salah’s Rock. He lives in nearby Yomra, where a street has been named after him.
A competitive start in Turkey
Trabzonspor have won seven of their first 10 games, including victories over league leaders Galatasaray and Besiktas. They are three points behind Galatasaray, and Salah has scored 10 times in 15 appearances.
Salah has a security detail and a private chef, and continues to set standards in training and the gym. Trabzonspor teammate Paul Onuachu said Salah’s presence helps the squad and called playing alongside him a blessing.
A move with ambitions
Salah earns about £14.6m annually, along with 20% of official merchandise sold bearing his name. The article says financial terms mattered, but that he also wanted to concentrate fully on football.
He hopes to represent club and country at the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2030 World Cup. The account describes his move as an effort to show he can still compete at the highest level, rather than a retreat from the game.
Key points
- Salah has scored 10 goals in 15 games for Trabzonspor.
- Trabzonspor have won seven of their first 10 matches and trail Galatasaray by three points.
- New flights from Cairo, Dubai and Riyadh have made travel to Turkey more accessible.
- Salah is targeting the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2030 World Cup.