Mohamed Salah set to join Trabzonspor and form new attacking partnership with Paul Onuachu

Trabzonspor are close to completing the signing of Liverpool and Egypt great Mohamed Salah, with the veteran forward expected to lead their attack alongside Nigeria striker Paul Onuachu next season.

The Turkish club have confirmed that negotiations are under way for Salah, a two-time African Footballer of the Year. He is due to arrive at Istanbul Airport on Wednesday as the proposed move progresses.

Salah, currently a free agent, is expected to sign a two-year contract with Trabzonspor if the agreement is finalised.

The transfer would give Trabzonspor a high-profile addition to their forward line and provide support for Onuachu, who carried a significant share of the club’s goalscoring responsibility during the previous Turkish Super Lig campaign.

The Nigeria international scored 36% of Trabzonspor’s Super Lig goals last season. He enjoyed a breakthrough 2025-26 campaign and finished as the division’s joint top scorer, level with Istanbul Basaksehir forward Eldor Shomurodov.

Onuachu has yet to score in pre-season, however, having played in three matches so far.

Salah is set to join a squad that already includes a number of African players. Those players include Nigeria internationals Chibuike Nwaiwu and Onuachu, Cape Verde pair Sidny Lopes Cabral and Wagner Pina, and Cameroon goalkeeper Andre Onana.

Trabzonspor are understood to have pursued Salah in part to reduce the pressure on Onuachu to provide the majority of the team’s goals. The proposed partnership would bring together an experienced forward with one of the club’s leading scorers from last season.

Despite featuring prominently in Trabzonspor’s pre-season preparations and friendly matches, both Nwaiwu and Onuachu continue to be linked with moves away from the club.

The uncertainty over the two Super Eagles players comes as Trabzonspor work to strengthen their attacking options. Salah’s arrival would represent a major addition for the Turkish side, although the deal remains subject to the completion of negotiations.

The former Liverpool forward is expected in Istanbul on Wednesday, with a two-year contract reportedly awaiting his signature. If the transfer goes through as anticipated, Salah will begin the next campaign as the senior figure in a Trabzonspor attack that includes Onuachu, last season’s joint leading scorer in the Super Lig.