Having departed Liverpool this summer, Mohamed Salah is due to join Turkish Super Lig side Trabzonspor, with the Egyptian forward set to wear an unusual number
Mohamed Salah has confirmed he will be joining Turkish side Trabzonspor
Mohamed Salah has confirmed he will be joining Turkish side Trabzonspor(Image: X/@Trabzonspor)
Mohamed Salah's new club has been confirmed after it was announced that the Egyptian forward will be joining Turkish Super Lig side Trabzonspor.
Having departed Merseyside this summer following a trophy-laden spell at Anfield, it was unclear where Salah would end up next, having been heavily courted by the Saudi Pro League in recent years. However, the 34-year-old has decided where he will continue his career, signing for Trabzonspor.
"Trabzon, are you ready? I can hear you. See you very soon," said Salah in a video posted to Trabzonspor's social media channels on Wednesday. He had drawn interest from MLS, Besiktas, and Al Ittihad, but has instead opted to join Trabzonspor, with fans already waiting in large numbers at Istanbul airport for his arrival in Turkey.
A statement from Trabzonspor read, "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. The time and other details regarding the welcome program in Trabzon will be shared with the public through our club’s official communication channels during the day."
Salah, who has signed a two-year deal, will also wear an unusual number with the Turkish side, one he has never worn in his professional career. He will wear the No. 61 shirt for Trabzonspor.
It is unclear why Salah has chosen the No. 61 shirt, but it has been mooted that it is a nod to the city of Trabzon's car registration plate system provincial code, which is 61.
During his time at Liverpool, Salah wore the No. 11 shirt, a number he also wore at Roma before his move to Merseyside in 2017. Prior to that, he wore the No. 74 shirt at Fiorentina, and the No. 17 and No. 15 at Chelsea. He wore 22 at Basel and 31 at El Mokawloon.
By joining Trabzonspor, Salah is signing for a side generally viewed as the fourth-biggest team in Turkey behind Galatasaray, Fenerbahce, and Besiktas. The club has been Super Lig champions seven times, with their most recent title coming in the 2021/22 season.
Mohamed Salah (Egypt) during Round of 16 FIFA World Cup 2026, Argentina and Egypt, Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, United States on July 07 2026. (Photo by Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Mohamed Salah is set to sign for Trabzonspor in Turkey(Image: Getty Images)
They are managed by former Turkey international Fatih Tekke, with Trabzonspor finishing third in the Super Lig last term behind champions Galatasaray and Fenerbahce.
They qualified for the Europa League playoffs by way of their third-place finish, with Trabzonspor set to play a two-legged tie later this month to gain qualification to the Europa League's league phase.