Salah Welcomed by 40,000 Fans in Turkey
Egyptian star leaves Liverpool after nine years and 257 goals, joins Trabzonspor on a free transfer.
Egyptian star leaves Liverpool after nine years and 257 goals, joins Trabzonspor on a free transfer.
Mohamed Salah, the 34-year-old Egyptian forward and one of Liverpool's greatest legends, was officially unveiled as Trabzonspor's new signing on Wednesday, August 6, 2026. After his contract with the English club expired, he arrived in Turkey on a free transfer, and the reception at Papara Park Stadium exceeded all expectations.
According to Sportklub's report, 40,000 fans filled the stands, greeting the club's new number 10 with fireworks, flares, and thunderous ovations. Salah did not hide his emotions in front of the gathered crowd. "The last two days have been an experience I've never felt in my life. I want to thank every one of you for coming today and yesterday. You've shown me so much love, and I truly didn't expect such a welcome. I'm here to win," Salah said from the stage at Papara Park.
Salah leaves English football as a player who, in nine years at Anfield, made 442 appearances and scored 257 goals. With Liverpool, he won two English league titles and the Champions League, and now he embarks on a new adventure on the Black Sea coast. He could make his official debut for Trabzonspor as early as August 15, 2026, when his club visits Kasımpaşa in Istanbul in the first round of the Turkish Süper Lig.
While Salah acclimatizes to his new surroundings, the promotional photo shoot held on the same day, August 6, in the Araklı district of Trabzon province, drew significant attention. On that occasion, Araklı's mayor, Hüseyin Avni Coşkun Çebi, made an unusual offer to the Egyptian star, warning him about the consequences of global warming.
Citing Turkish outlet 61saat, Çebi said during the shoot: "Despite Egypt's beauty, its people suffer from poverty. Climate change is destroying the world, and in the future, life in Egypt will become difficult during the summer months. As for our region, it will be livable and less affected by the impacts of climate change."
In a humorous tone, the mayor then directly offered a plot of land: "Let's give you a beautiful plot, and you'll find a place in a beautiful geographical location, safe from climate change." The two eventually shook hands, and Salah responded to the offer with a broad smile, without any official comment.
Football fans in Croatia will be able to follow Salah's performances on the regional sports channel Sport Klub, available via A1, Hrvatski Telekom, Telemach, Total TV, OptiTV, and the EON platform.
