Trabzonspor have confirmed they are in talks to sign Mohamed Salah after the forward’s departure from Liverpool.
The Turkish club are expecting the Egypt international to arrive in the country on Wednesday to complete the next stage of the move.
The Super Lig side announced on Tuesday that talks were under way with the 34-year-old, who has been without a club since leaving Liverpool this summer. Club chair Ertugrul Dogan said Salah is due in Istanbul for a medical before travelling to Trabzon, with the transfer expected to be completed later this week.
“Negotiations have been launched to transfer professional footballer Mohamed Salah, who is in a free status, to our club,” Trabzonspor said in a statement.
Dogan said the deal had not yet been finalised but added that Salah was expected to travel on Wednesday, with the signing likely to take place on Thursday.
If completed, the move would bring to an end speculation over Salah’s future after he was linked with clubs in Major League Soccer and Saudi Arabia. Besiktas also made an approach, although negotiations reportedly stalled over financial terms and image-rights demands.
A legend after nine years
Salah leaves Liverpool after nine seasons in which he established himself as one of the greatest players in the history of the club and the Premier League. He scored 257 goals in 442 appearances for Liverpool, helping them win two Premier League titles, the Champions League, the FA Cup, two League Cups, the Fifa Club World Cup and the Uefa Super Cup.
In 2024-25, he had one of the best seasons of his career, scoring 29 Premier League goals and providing 18 assists to match the Premier League record for total goal involvements in a season and set a new record for a 38-game campaign.
He was also named Premier League Player of the Season while winning both the Golden Boot and Playmaker Award.
Eleven memorable moments from our number 11 ❤️ pic.twitter.com/OQvARRerB1
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) March 24, 2026
His form declined last season, however, as Liverpool struggled to defend the title. Salah produced seven league goals and seven assists in 27 matches, but the season was notable for a public disagreement with then head coach Arne Slot for benching him.
Salah accused the club of throwing him “under the bus” and revealed his relationship with Slot was broken. He was reintegrated into the squad after leaving for a time to play at the Africa Cup of Nations, although he was unable to rediscover his previous levels.
Before joining Liverpool from Roma in 2017, Salah began his European career with Basel and also spent time at Chelsea and Fiorentina. He also represented Egypt at this summer’s World Cup, making five appearances as his country reached the last 16 before losing to Argentina.
Is Trabzonspor a suitable destination for Salah?
Salah had a few choices at his disposal after leaving Liverpool at the age of 34 as one of their greatest players, as well as one of the most successful.
There was the Saudi Pro League, where he would be very close to home, with Saudi Arabia just across the Red Sea from Egypt. Al-Ittihad were the leading club among a few who were interested and could do a deal for him.
The other was Al-Qadsiah, but Al-Hilal, Al-Ahli, and Al-Nassr, where Cristiano Ronaldo plays, were not expected to make a move for the Egyptian.
Another option was Major League Soccer in the US, where Sporting Kansas City were keen on signing him.
But both the US and Saudi Arabia are considered destinations for those unable to continue in Europe, and Salah may perhaps feel that he has a bit more to deliver even at 34.
Trabzonspor finished third in the Turkish Super Lig last season to qualify for the Europa League playoffs, which means that Salah would still be playing European competition were he to join.
