Mohamed Salah to Trabzonspor? Why it feels like a loss for everyone

Last Updated on 1 August 2026

Mohamed Salah’s free-agency saga keeps dragging toward an underwhelming conclusion.

After Besiktas talks collapsed over commission disputes, Trabzonspor now look ready to seal a deal. Reports suggest a two-year contract worth around €17million annually.

However, this outcome satisfies nobody, least of all Salah himself.

Mohamed Salah to Trabzonspor undersells the Egyptian King’s true talent

Mohamed Salah leaves Liverpool as arguably their greatest ever player. Even at 33, he remained undroppable last season, still delivering goals and assists consistently. Had he stayed, nobody would’ve questioned his starting spot for another year at least.

Instead, Trabzonspor’s official approached his reps directly, pushing hard for quick resolution. Reportedly, they want everything finalised within days. That urgency contrasts sharply with Salah’s stature in world football. Confusion has surrounded this story throughout too.

Trabzonspor’s president initially denied any contact whatsoever, calling reports completely untrue. Yet sources kept insisting talks progressed regardless, eventually confirming an official offer had landed. Such contradictory noise hardly befits a move of this magnitude.

A move that is a loss for both sides ultimately

For Salah, joining Trabzonspor represents a significant step down competitively. The Super Lig offers neither Champions League football nor the spotlight he’s accustomed to. Consequently, his final peak years risk fading into relative obscurity.

Liverpool, meanwhile, lose a proven match-winner for absolutely nothing. Their attack now lacks his end product, and replacing that output won’t happen easily. Therefore, letting him leave on a free looks increasingly costly in hindsight.

Trabzonspor gain a genuine superstar, no doubt about that. Commercially, this signing would transform their global profile overnight. Sportingly, though, questions remain about fit, motivation and physical demands within Turkish football’s shorter season.

Ultimately, everyone involved walks away slightly worse off. Salah trades relevance for financial security. Liverpool loses quality without compensation. Football, generally, loses another great player fading quietly rather than finishing on his own terms.