Mohamed Salah’s arrival at Trabzonspor has transformed the Black Sea city, with his shirts selling out, new flights bringing supporters from across the Arab world and his goals helping the club challenge for the Turkish Super Lig title.
The 34-year-old landed in Istanbul in August wearing Trabzonspor’s burgundy and blue home kit, greeted by thousands of fans after flying from Mykonos. The shirt sold out almost immediately. He later wore the black away strip on the advice of club president Ertugrul Dogan, and that also quickly disappeared from the shelves.
“I went to the airport to see him in Istanbul and it was surreal,” said Nisa Dumangoz. “I still can’t believe that he is one of us.”
Salah’s image is now everywhere in Trabzon, from the walls of fishmongers to the club shop, where one employee jokes that the ground floor is dedicated to the Egyptian and the upper floor to everything else. Scarves, magnets, keyrings, lighters and Egyptian Nemes headdresses in Trabzonspor colours are on sale outside the stadium.
“Walking around Trabzon, it feels as though nine out of every 10 fans wearing a shirt have Salah’s name on the back,” said Turkish football journalist Hasan Tuncel.
The club has already exceeded its merchandise revenue from last year within three months of his arrival, while season-ticket sales have surged. New flights from Cairo, Dubai and Riyadh have also been introduced. On one flight from Istanbul, an Egyptian family of 10 travelled from Cairo for Trabzonspor’s Uefa Conference League match against Freiburg.
“He is our ambassador and our Egyptian King,” said Mahmoud, one of the family. “With how many people want to come to Turkey now, he is their ambassador too.”
A group of Egyptian celebrities and influencers attended the game, with a combined Instagram following of about five million. Trabzonspor have three million followers and Salah has 68 million. A rock where Salah posed during a hike in the Trabzon highlands has even been renamed Salahtasi, or Salah’s Rock, and become a tourist attraction.
His impact on the pitch has matched his commercial influence. Salah has scored 10 goals and provided five assists in all competitions, helping Trabzonspor win seven of their first 10 league matches. They trail leaders Galatasaray by three points and have beaten both Galatasaray and Besiktas.
Trabzonspor’s seven titles remain modest beside the Istanbul ‘big three’, who have won 61 championships between them: Galatasaray 26, Fenerbahce 19 and Besiktas 16.
Salah earns about £14.6m a year and receives 20% of official merchandise sales bearing his name. He chose Trabzonspor over the possibility of joining Besiktas after the 2026 World Cup, preferring the quieter life away from Istanbul. He lives in Yomra, has private security and a chef, and has continued to set high standards in training.
“He adds so much and helps all of us,” said Paul Onuachu, formerly of Southampton. “It’s a blessing to play with him.”
Salah signed a two-year deal in the summer of 2026 and hopes to play at the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations and 2030 World Cup. There is growing belief he could move to Saudi Arabia when the contract expires in 2028, when he will be 36.
For now, the player remains determined to show he can compete at the highest level. “Hello,” was his brief message to Liverpool fans when approached by BBC Sport.
Trabzonspor supporters believe their Egyptian King can deliver more silverware for the Black Sea Storm.
