Former Liverpool star Mohamed Salah has opened up on why he ended up joining Turkish club Trabzonspor ahead of the 2026/27 season.
Mohamed Salah has revealed an interesting connection to Liverpool that helped shape his excitement about joining Trabzonspor, with the Egyptian forward admitting that the club’s passionate football culture immediately caught his attention.
When asked about his decision to join the Super Lig club, Salah explained that his first reaction to hearing about Trabzonspor’s interest was to research the Turkish city and discover more about the places, culture, and food he could experience after making the move.
“I researched the most beautiful places in the city. I’ve played for clubs where football has a very strong culture. I know that being in a city where people are passionately devoted to football is different from being in the capital or somewhere else. When I heard about Trabzonspor’s interest, I automatically got excited. When I came, I also researched some places and the best possible foods,” Salah said via FutbolArena.
Salah’s blockbuster move to Trabzonspor
The Egyptian’s comments underline the importance he places on football culture when choosing where to play. Salah has spent the majority of his career at clubs where football occupies a central position in the community, and he believes playing in a city with a passionate fanbase offers a completely different experience.
That is where the Liverpool connection comes into focus. Salah’s time at Anfield exposed him to one of the strongest football cultures in Europe, with the Merseyside club’s supporters renowned for their deep connection with the club and the city. His comments suggest that Trabzonspor’s similarly intense relationship with their supporters appealed to him.
Salah joined Liverpool in 2017 and quickly established himself as one of the most influential players in the club’s modern history. Across 442 appearances, he scored 257 goals and provided 123 assists, becoming a key figure during one of the most successful periods in the Reds’ history.
His time on Merseyside yielded major honours, including the Premier League and Champions League, while his individual performances turned him into a global football icon.
The Egyptian forward appears to have carried that appreciation for football-mad cities into his latest career decisions, rather than simply focusing on the footballing side of the transfer. He had offers from some of the biggest clubs in Europe, including Atletico Madrid, but he still chose to join the Turkish outfit because of their football culture.
For Salah, that environment could offer a familiar feeling despite the move away from Liverpool. After years at Anfield surrounded by supporters for whom football is a way of life, the Egyptian appears to have found another club where that same passion can play an important role in his experience.