Trabzonspor are closing in on a two-year deal for Mohamed Salah, with the Turkish club confirming that negotiations have begun to sign the former Liverpool forward.
Besiktas, Trabzonspor's Istanbul rivals, had been understood to be Salah's first choice, but talks between the Egyptian and that club stalled last week.
On Tuesday night Trabzonspor posted a message to their 1.9 million followers on X, writing: "Public Announcement: Negotiations have begun regarding the transfer of professional footballer Mohamed Salah to our Club."
The club followed up with further details, saying: "Professional footballer Mohamed Salah, with whom we have begun transfer negotiations, will be at Istanbul Atatürk Airport General Aviation Terminal at 12:00 on Wednesday, August 5. The player is scheduled to arrive in Trabzon on the same day in the evening hours." Trabzonspor added that the time and other details of a welcome programme in Trabzon would be shared with supporters later in the day.
Trabzonspor also shared a 17-second AI-generated video showing a camera panning from the pyramids over mountains to their 41,000-seater stadium, Papara Park.
Why Salah is leaving Liverpool
Salah's future has been the subject of huge interest since the surprise announcement in March that he would leave Liverpool one year into a two-year contract extension. Many had expected Saudi Arabia to be his most likely destination, after Al-Ittihad made a £150 million bid for him in the summer of 2023.
Instead, Trabzonspor are now set to sign the winger, who fell out with manager Arne Slot at Anfield last season. The Turkish side finished third in their league last term, behind Fenerbahce and champions Galatasaray.
Salah's Liverpool legacy
Salah is the third-highest goalscorer in Liverpool's history, with 255 goals for the club. He chose not to hold talks with interested teams before the end of last season out of respect for Liverpool, according to the report.
His long-serving agent, Ramy Abbas, repeatedly insisted nothing had been decided and reaffirmed that stance during the World Cup. Since Salah returned from the tournament in the United States, though, talks with interested clubs have accelerated.
Salah is renowned for his professionalism and will back himself to remain at a high level deep into his thirties. He was the standout performer as Slot's Liverpool won the Premier League in the Dutch coach's first season in charge, the Egyptian's second English title. His output dropped off last season, though, with just 10 goals compared with 34 in the 2024-25 title-winning campaign. He was voted the Professional Footballers' Association Players' Player of the Year three times during his time at the club.
Liverpool's search for a replacement
Liverpool have yet to replace Salah. With the new season approaching, Paris Saint-Germain's Bradley Barcola remains their most likely high-profile attacking target. The 23-year-old is valued at £145 million by his club but plays predominantly on the left, and former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has warned against signing him as a direct replacement for Salah.
Trabzonspor's ambitions
Salah would become the most high-profile signing in Trabzonspor's history. If the move is confirmed, he would join Manchester United loanee Andre Onana at the club, as well as former Manchester City defender Stefan Savic. Trabzonspor have won the Turkish domestic title seven times.
