Mohamed Salah's Next Move: Joining Trabzonspor

Mohamed Salah’s next act is finally taking shape – and it is not the one most people expected.

For months, the Egyptian icon’s future has hung in the air, ever since he walked away from Liverpool and the comfort of Anfield after a fractured final season under Dutch coach Arne Slot. The relationship broke, the era ended, and both sides stepped away last summer. What came next was supposed to be simple. It has been anything but.

From Besiktas certainty to a late twist

In Turkey, the story looked settled. Local reports grew louder by the day: Mohamed Salah, the “Egyptian King”, was on his way to Besiktas. The narrative felt almost inevitable. A giant of Istanbul, a global superstar fresh from the Premier League, a marquee signing to close the chapter on his Liverpool years.

Then the deal stalled.

Sources close to the negotiations say talks between Besiktas and Salah hit a wall. The sticking point? Money and structure. The financial package demanded by Salah’s agent, Ramy Abbas, was described as “complex”, and Besiktas’ hierarchy refused to bend. The optimism faded. The move that had been treated as a formality suddenly looked fragile.

That was the opening Trabzonspor needed.

Trabzonspor move fast

While Besiktas hesitated, Trabzonspor stepped in with conviction. No noise, no drawn-out leaks. Just a clear push to get it done.

According to leading Turkish outlet Fanatik, Trabzonspor’s board has already agreed every financial and personal term with Salah’s camp. No final hurdles. No late caveats. The club has sent the final version of the contract to Ramy Abbas for signing, confident that all details are locked in.

Inside the club, the mood has shifted from negotiation to preparation.

A historic reception in the making

Trabzonspor’s directors are set to hold a decisive meeting today, Tuesday, to map out what they are calling a historic welcome for Salah. This is not just a routine unveiling. Plans are being drawn up for a full-scale reception worthy of one of the game’s most recognisable forwards: travel logistics, stadium celebration, and a fan event designed to underline the scale of the signing.

The timing is clear. Once the contracts are signed and Salah lands on Turkish soil, the club will move quickly with an official announcement. No teasers. No half-measures. Just a statement that one of Africa’s greatest modern players has chosen Trabzon over Istanbul’s traditional power.

From Anfield to the Black Sea, Salah’s journey is about to veer into a new landscape. The question now is not whether Turkey will welcome him, but how far he can drag Trabzonspor on this unexpected new chapter of his career.