Mohamed Salah has ended speculation over his future by joining Trabzonspor, becoming the fourth Egyptian player to represent the Turkish club.
Trabzonspor officially announced the arrival of the Egypt captain on Wednesday, in one of the most notable deals of the summer transfer window. The club published photographs of Salah wearing the team’s shirt on board a plane travelling to Turkey, ahead of the formal unveiling and his presentation to supporters and the media.
The move takes Salah into the Turkish league after a period of uncertainty over his next club. Turkish reports had previously claimed that the forward had reached an agreement with Trabzonspor on a two-year contract.
His arrival also adds his name to a small group of Egyptian players who have worn Trabzonspor’s colours. Before Salah, that list included Ayman Abdelaziz, Sayed Moawad and Mahmoud Hassan “Trezeguet”.
Salah’s decision brings an end to the uncertainty surrounding his future. He had been considering offers from several Saudi Arabian clubs, while Besiktas had also come close to securing his signature.
The Turkish club had appeared to be a strong contender for the player, but negotiations with Besiktas ultimately broke down over financial terms. Besiktas officials described the demands involved as excessive, with the disagreement preventing the transfer from being completed.
Trabzonspor’s announcement confirms that Salah has chosen to continue his career in Turkey, rather than move to the Saudi Pro League or join Besiktas. His arrival has therefore become one of the headline deals of the summer in Turkish football.
The club’s decision to reveal the transfer through images of Salah in its shirt, while he was travelling to Turkey, came before his official introduction to the club’s supporters and the media. The presentation is expected to formally mark the start of his time with Trabzonspor.
For Egyptian football, Salah’s transfer gives the club a fourth player from the country to have worn its shirt. He follows Abdelaziz, Moawad and Trezeguet, while becoming the latest Egyptian international to take on a role at Trabzonspor.
The agreement, reported as running for two years, represents the next stage of Salah’s career after his future had been the subject of interest from clubs in both Turkey and Saudi Arabia. The final decision has now been made, with Trabzonspor confirming the move and Salah set to be presented as the club’s latest signing.
