After months of palava, Mohamed Salah don finally choose im next destination. The Liverpool legend sign two-year deal with Turkish side Trabzonspor on Thursday, after im contract for Anfield expire. This move don surprise plenty pipo, because many people think e go go Saudi Arabia or America.
Saudi Pro League clubs don dey pursue Salah for years. Major League Soccer also look like real option for one of world football biggest stars. But the 34-year-old decide to remain for Europe by join Trabzonspor, club wey dem know more for upsetting Turkey established order than dominating am. So why e choose this club? And wetin both side expect from each other?
Money alone no explain Salah decision. Saudi clubs like Al-Ittihad even make late approach. Sporting Kansas City for MLS also interested. Both destinations fit give am plenty money. But Salah choose to stick with European football. E go still dey paid well for Turkey. Trabzonspor confirm for Turkish stock exchange say e go collect £14.5 million per season, plus 20% share of revenue from Salah-branded merchandise.
Trabzonspor finish third for last season Super Lig. Dem go compete for Europa League play-offs this month. If dem win two legs, dem go qualify for league phase. If dem lose, dem go enter Conference League. Salah help Egypt reach knockout stages of this summer World Cup, and e produce one of im best seasons for 2024-25. So continuing to play for Europe carry heavy weight for am.
If Salah wan stay for Europe, Trabzonspor no be the obvious choice. Turkey traditional big clubs na Galatasaray, Fenerbahce and Besiktas. Most big-name arrivals dey choose one of the Istanbul giants. Besiktas try to sign Salah, but negotiations collapse over money. That open door for Trabzonspor. Although dem no get global profile like Turkey biggest clubs, Trabzonspor no be small club. Dem be seven-time Turkish champions, win Super Lig for 2021-22, and lift Turkish Cup last season. Fatih Tekke side also finish third for league.
Salah instantly become the biggest signing for club history. Hundreds of supporters gather to welcome am before e travel to Trabzon. Former Scotland midfielder Ryan Jack, wey play for Rangers and don spend two seasons for Turkey, no surprise by the scenes. E tell BBC Sport say Turkish fans dey passionate die. During unveiling, Salah wear number 61 shirt for short time, wey be tribute to Trabzon vehicle registration code. But for 2026-27 season, e go wear number 10, because e request the number wey e dey wear for Egypt. Team-mate Ernest Muci agree to give am the jersey as respect.
Salah move na latest sign say Turkish football dey grow for appeal. Victor Osimhen, Leroy Sane, Ilkay Gundogan, Nathan Ake and Leandro Trossard be among high-profile names don dey play for Super Lig. Andre Onana, Ruslan Malinovskyi and Stefan Savic already dey Trabzonspor squad. Last summer, Super Lig record third-highest net transfer spend for world football, behind only Premier League and Saudi Pro League. That one show league ambition.
The economics behind that spending dey unusual. Turkey biggest clubs dey generate plenty income for euros through Uefa competition, while many domestic costs dey for Turkish lira. High inflation don reduce value of existing debt, so clubs get more flexibility. Financially, Trabzonspor fit present attractive package. Reports say Salah sign two-year contract until June 2028, worth around £7.3 million per season, below wetin e fit earn for Saudi, but with bonuses and merchandise revenue.
Ryan Jack believe the league profile dey continue to rise. E say league dey stronger every year, and Salah move na biggest name for Turkey for recent years. E think e go persuade other top players to come. Jack love im time for Turkey, say people dey friendly and clubs dey help players settle.
But Super Lig still dey far below Europe elite competitions. Opta rank am as 14th strongest domestic league for world, behind Denmark, Poland and even England Championship. Turkish clubs find sustained European success hard. Since Galatasaray win Uefa Cup for 2000, only one Turkish side reach semi-finals of major Uefa competition. That show the gap.
For Salah, the move na compromise. E go still play continental football, plus for one of most fervent environments. Age dey suggest say e dey enter twilight of career, but e still get plenty to offer. E inspire Egypt to knockout stages of 2026 World Cup, with one goal and two assists for five appearances. Im final season for Liverpool no easy, as dem slip to fifth place. Salah score 12 goals across all competitions after falling out of favour under Arne Slot. But only one year earlier, e don deliver one of best campaigns of im career, with 34 goals and 23 assists as Liverpool win Premier League title.
Trabzonspor go build dia attack around Salah immediately. Fatih Tekke side dey play 4-2-3-1, and Salah go take im familiar right wing position, cut inside onto im left foot. Tekke fit also switch to 4-3-3 without changing Salah role. Im competitive debut fit come on 15 August when Trabzonspor open Super Lig campaign away to Kasimpasa. Then Europa League play-off against Ferencvaros or Gornik Zabrze.
For Trabzonspor, the transfer pass beyond wetin Salah go do for pitch. Im arrival raise club global profile, boost commercial opportunities. Jack also believe Salah move go increase international interest for Turkish game. E say Liverpool fans and people wey love watching Salah go take notice and start following league.
For Salah, the move offer something more valuable than another lucrative contract. E remain for Europe, fit compete for domestic honours and European football, and become undisputed figurehead of one of Turkey most historic clubs. E no be the destination many expected, but for both player and club, na opportunity to begin ambitious new chapter.
