Mo Salah asks Trabzonspor board for something different as he arrives to finalize his transfer
Mo Salah’s surprising first request to Trabzonspor has come to light after the former Liverpool star flew in to finalize his move to the Turkish Super Lig team.
After nine successful years and many trophies with Liverpool, Salah left the club a year before his contract ended, joining Trabzonspor as a free agent on June 30, right during the World Cup. Many clubs from Europe, Saudi Arabia, and other places showed interest, but the 34-year-old chose Trabzonspor over Besiktas, another Turkish team.
Salah left his vacation in Greece on a private jet to Istanbul, where he’s set to have his medical check-up and sign his contract. Trabzonspor’s president, Ertugrul Dogan, called Salah a “world star” and said the club really needed a player like him.
The club knows how big this signing is and even made a rare move to meet Salah’s unusual first request. According to Turkish paper 61 Saat, Salah asked for part of his salary to be paid upfront, and the club agreed right away.
Salah is expected to sign a two-year deal until 2028, becoming the highest-paid player in Trabzonspor’s history, reportedly earning €17 million a year after tax. When he arrived in Istanbul, he was warmly welcomed by fans, wearing Trabzonspor’s new home jersey and clearly enjoying the huge fan support.
Photos showed him on a private jet wearing his new shirt with the number 61 on the back. This surprised many since Salah usually wears number 11. But it turns out the No. 61 is very special in Trabzon because it’s the vehicle registration code for the city and holds great meaning locally.
The club’s website calls No. 61 “the most symbolic” number, and Salah has already won fans over by embracing the city’s identity. The usual numbers 10 and 11 are already taken, so Salah won’t be able to wear his favorite number unless someone leaves or gives it up.
Trabzonspor is getting ready for the new season, which starts on August 15 against Kasimpasa. They’re not in the Champions League this year but have some well-known players on the team, including goalkeeper Andre Onana on loan from Manchester United, and midfielder John Lundstram, who joined in 2024 after playing on loan at Hull City.
Other teammates joining Salah include defender Stefan Savic, who played for Manchester City and Atletico Madrid, striker Paul Onuachu, known for his time at Southampton, and Sidney Lopes Cabral, who scored the World Cup’s Goal of the Tournament for Cape Verde against Argentina.