Mohamed Salah took many by surprise when he signed for Trabzonspor following his exit from Liverpool, and the winger has now outlined his reasons for joining the Turkish club
Mohamed Salah speaking during an interview for Trabzonspor
Mohamed Salah has detailed his reasons for joining Trabzonspor(Image: Trabzonspor)
Mohamed Salah has outlined what it was that drew him to Trabzonspor following his surprise move to the Turkish club.
Salah joined Trabzonspor last month, having left Liverpool earlier in the summer after nine years at Anfield. Having elected to stay in Europe rather than make the move to Saudi Arabia or the MLS, the 34-year-old’s eventual choice of club was a little unexpected.
Many had expected him to try and stay in the Champions League, only to decide upon a move to Trabzon, where he will be instead be competing in the Conference League after falling in the play-offs for the Europa League.
It has been a difficult start to life at his new club for Salah. Trabzonspor has won just one of its five games so far, losing three of them, and the club’s manager Fatih Tekke sensationally resigned after his side’s 4-0 defeat to Hungarian side Ferencvaros.
In a new interview released by Trabzonspor, Salah has explained that he was drawn to the club after a conversation with its president Ertugrul Dogan.
"I think his ambition and also what he tried to build in the club. That's what he convinced me with,” Salah said. “Because also I came from a place, I think Liverpool people love me, they show me always love and respect.
Mohamed Salah of Trabzonspor celebrates after scoring a goal during the Turkish Super Lig week 2 football match between Trabzonspor and Istanbul Basaksehir at Papara Park in Trabzon, Turkiye on August 23, 2026
Salah's move to Trabzonspor took many by surprise(Image: 2026 Anadolu)
"I've been there nine years. So what he said about the love that I see in my head was, yeah, I would love to see that, which is what happened when I arrived in the airport. It was incredible.
“And also the stadium was incredible. But the main thing for me was like he really wants to win something with the team, which that convinced me somehow that, okay, this is the right thing to do."
Salah added: "I checked the best places in the city. So I've been in a club like Liverpool and also Fiorentina. I know when the people are passionate about football and when the people love football in a city, it's a bit different than like when you are in the capital or something.
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"So it's like when I heard that the club is interesting, automatically I was like, okay, I was very excited. And I checked some places and the best food probably, so I can also enjoy myself. So yeah, this is the first thing I did once I know the club is interesting."
Salah was greeted by thousands of fans upon his arrival in Trabzon last month, with the Egyptian even attracting a horde of supporters as he underwent his medical in Istanbul.
"Yeah, I'm not an emotional guy, but you arrive in the airport, I think it's somehow fulfilled something on me that I'm missing,” Salah said about his welcome. “And like, I really wanted to see that I really, I never expected. So I never expected to be that way in a stadium or an airport.
Trabzonspor supporters welcome Egyptian footballer Mohamed Salah with flares and chants upon his arrival at Trabzon Airport in Trabzon, Turkiye, on August 5, 2026. Salah led the fans in the club's traditional three-count chant before leaving the airport.
Salah was greeted by thousands of fans upon his arrival at Trabzonspor(Image: 2026 Anadolu)
"So as you said, like, I don't see many players have received from the fans like this before they even touch the ball. So I was very, very happy and very emotional.
"I spoke to everyone like I know, probably, and also some teammates from Liverpool because they called me the day after. I'm still in good contact with them. But like, it's incredible because like, they never saw something like this before for somebody who didn't even play in a club yet.
"So it's, yeah, it was all over the internet as well. So not just my family and friends, everyone in the world probably saw."