Farewell to Anfield, Hello to the Black Sea: Salah Signs for Trabzonspor on Free Transfer, €17 Million Annual Salary

On Wednesday afternoon, a spectacular scene unfolded outside Istanbul's Atatürk Airport. A large number of media outlets set up equipment at the terminal entrance, while thousands of passionate Trabzonspor fans crowded behind metal barriers, eager to catch a glimpse of their new idol. Amidst the chaos, Mohamed Salah simply smiled calmly. The player who spent nearly a decade at Liverpool and was dubbed the "Egyptian King" had long been accustomed to such royal treatment.

However, even Salah himself was moved by the atmosphere as he prepared to finalize the deal that shook the football world—a transfer to Turkish club Trabzonspor. Wearing the club's iconic burgundy and blue jersey and a white baseball cap, he first gestured for the crowd to quiet down, then raised his arms in triumph amid the cheers, teasing the fans' emotions. This perhaps made the most surprising transfer of the summer feel justified for the first time. On Tuesday, Trabzonspor officially announced they were in negotiations with Salah, causing a stir—Salah had been a free agent since leaving Liverpool at the end of last season.

Less than 18 months ago, the Egyptian international was at the center of Anfield, announcing a lucrative two-year contract extension with Liverpool. At that time, he seemed at his peak, ready to continue cementing his legendary status. So why did the 34-year-old Salah decide to leave the top stage of the Premier League and choose Turkey's fourth most popular club? And with the transfer window closing soon, what does his departure leave behind for Liverpool?

When Salah confirmed in March that he would leave on a free transfer, speculation about his next destination immediately heated up. Saudi Arabia seemed the most obvious choice—their interest dated back to the summer of 2023, when Al-Ittihad made a £150 million bid that failed. Messi's high-profile stint at Inter Miami offered another option for veterans, while Salah's desire for success might have prompted him to stay in Europe's top leagues. Even when the Turkish Super Lig opportunity emerged, almost everyone assumed he would join one of the "big three" clubs: Beşiktaş, Galatasaray, or Fenerbahçe.

Given that reigning champions Galatasaray were already burdened with huge wages, Beşiktaş briefly emerged as the strongest contender. Negotiations began earlier this month, but then Beşiktaş's sporting director revealed they pulled out due to financial obstacles. According to insiders, demands from Salah's long-time agent hindered the deal. So Trabzonspor moved quickly, offering Salah a two-year contract reportedly worth around €17 million per season, as revealed by authoritative media.

At first glance, Salah's move seems puzzling—part of his reason for leaving Liverpool was his belief that he could still compete at the highest level. But Trabzonspor finished only third in the Turkish Super Lig last season and needed playoffs to enter the Europa League, which seems somewhat of a downgrade. However, upon closer inspection, the appeal of this transfer becomes clear: Salah can stay in Europe, live in one of the most vibrant cities on the Black Sea coast, avoid the significant salary cuts required to move to Spain or Italy, benefit from a more favorable income tax rate, and be just a two-hour flight from his home country, Egypt.

People have already compared this to Maradona's move from Barcelona to Napoli in 1984. In Naples, the Argentine legend led the club from obscurity to becoming a European force, becoming an icon. Trabzonspor has won the league title seven times, but only once in the past 42 years, with the most recent title coming in the 2021-22 season, which sparked city-wide celebrations. If Salah can help the club replicate that success, he will become a hero to the fans. Meanwhile, for the club, this deal is also extremely shrewd.

While signing Salah is a significant financial investment, his arrival immediately elevates the club's status on the world stage and attracts a range of potential sponsors. Over the past 24 hours, the club's social media has been flooded with posts—including photos of Salah wearing a Trabzonspor No. 61 jersey on a private jet (61 is a symbolic number for Trabzon, though he was later shown wearing No. 10)—proving this is a massive marketing opportunity. Additionally, in a country where approximately 99% of the population is Muslim, signing one of the world's most famous Muslim athletes will be hugely popular. For both parties, this is a wise business decision wrapped in romance.

For Liverpool, this also marks the beginning of a new era. After a stunning 2024-25 season—where Salah scored 29 goals and helped the club win the Premier League title—the club rewarded him with a new contract. However, as his form declined last season, tensions rose between Salah and the Anfield hierarchy. In December, after being benched for three consecutive games, Salah accused the club of making him a "scapegoat" and revealed his relationship with the coach had broken down. The two sides reached a temporary truce, but before his departure was confirmed in March, a split was inevitable. The only surprise was that Liverpool was willing to let him leave on a free transfer, giving up the final year of his contract.

Though this agreement meant Liverpool received no transfer fee this summer, the early departure also spared them from paying an astronomical weekly wage next season, freeing up funds to aid reconstruction. It also removed a potential "time bomb" for the new coach who took over in June, as he seeks to forge his own path. Last season, Salah struggled to accept no longer being guaranteed a starting spot, and an unhappy superstar could disrupt the team environment. Nevertheless, Liverpool now faces a daunting task: replacing a player who, over a nine-year legend at Merseyside, had built himself into an "irreplaceable" symbol.

Despite his decline last season, Salah was largely Liverpool's goal guarantee for nearly a decade, scoring 257 goals in 442 appearances across all competitions. Nearly five months after his departure was confirmed, it remains unclear who will occupy the right wing position when the Reds face Newcastle United away in the Premier League opener in a few weeks. According to foreign media reports, Liverpool is still in talks to sign Paris Saint-Germain forward Bradley Barcola, 23, but the club is not prepared to meet the Ligue 1 side's €145 million valuation. Even if Barcola joins, he is more accustomed to the left flank, just like Víctor Muñoz, who signed from Osasuna in June for €34.5 million. Foreign media also report that Liverpool is interested in PSG's Ibrahim Mbaye, but the 18-year-old winger is far from a finished product. The same goes for 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha, who, as the breakthrough star of the 2025-26 season, is being tested on the right wing in pre-season. With less than a month until the transfer window closes, the Reds have little time to finalize Salah's successor. One thing is certain: whoever replaces him will face a huge challenge.