Mohamed Salah’s Trabzonspor move agreed in five days after mystery Zoom meeting

Mohamed Salah completed his move to Trabzonspor after negotiations lasting just five or six days, following an initial Zoom meeting with club president Ertugrul Dogan while the Egypt forward was on holiday in Mykonos.

The Turkish club’s pursuit of Salah was more than a major transfer-market coup. Trabzonspor built its offer around the passion of the city, the influence of its supporters and the profile of one of the world’s most recognisable footballers.

Salah signed a two-year contract in front of about 35,000 fans at Papara Park, with Dogan standing beside him as the club unveiled a deal that has generated an international response extending well beyond football.

“He is the biggest Muslim footballer in the world, and an influential role model,” Dogan told the BBC. “We held his signing ceremony in front of 35,000 people. It was clear from everything he did that he felt the extent of the love he received, and he expressed that to us too and thanked us.”

The central question before the transfer was how Trabzonspor could persuade a player of Salah’s stature to join a club that does not play in the Champions League and has won the Turkish top flight only once since its golden era in the 1970s and 1980s.

Dogan believes the answer lies in the unique relationship between the club and the city.

“I have always said that Trabzonspor and the city of Trabzon represent something exceptional,” he said. “We are the biggest city in the world represented by only one club.”

He added: “We asked Salah: why should you choose Trabzonspor now? We spoke to him about the city and told him: be sure that you will meet a group of supporters unlike any other, and that you will feel the sincere love in these people’s hearts.”

Trabzon lies on Turkey’s Black Sea coast, close to the Georgian border. It has a population of about 800,000, although it is not among Turkey’s 20 largest urban centres.

Dogan, who was born in Trabzon in January 1977, built his wealth through businesses including property and hazelnut trading before moving into the energy sector and biofuel. He became Trabzonspor president in 2023, shortly after one of the club’s strongest campaigns in recent years, when they won the Turkish league title in 2021-22.

Under his leadership, the club, known as the Black Sea Storm, has finished third, seventh and third in its past three Turkish league campaigns. Last season it won the Turkish Cup under manager Fatih Tekke, who is now attempting to guide the side into the Europa League despite a 1-0 home defeat by Hungarian club Ferencvaros in the qualifying play-off first leg.

Dogan sees Salah’s arrival as part of a broader plan to make Trabzonspor a destination for emerging talent and established stars.

“We are working to make Trabzonspor and the city of Trabzon a preferred destination for young, talented players from all over the world,” he said.

The club intends to develop those players before giving them the opportunity to move to bigger European sides, while retaining experienced footballers capable of making a decisive difference. Dogan described Salah as “a great example of that, whether in terms of his lifestyle, professionalism, smile or positive energy”.

Trabzonspor made substantial profits during the summer by selling 20-year-old Ivory Coast midfielder Christ Inao Oulai to Fiorentina and 22-year-old Brazilian forward Felipe Augusto to Zenit St Petersburg, with both players leaving after only one season.

The club replaced them with a group of young signings from Albania, Belgium, Cape Verde and Portugal, while also seeking more experienced names. Cameroon goalkeeper Andre Onana returned for a second loan spell from Manchester United, but Salah’s arrival has had the biggest impact in terms of fan interest and marketing.

“It is not easy to put a direct financial value on the attention and level of engagement this transfer has generated around the world,” Dogan said.

He previously revealed that Salah would earn an annual salary of 17m euros, as well as 20% of revenue from sales of products bearing his name. “From a purely financial perspective, the deal does not generate a direct return in itself,” Dogan said.

However, the impact was felt almost immediately. Trabzonspor increased season-ticket prices again after announcing Salah’s signing.

“I told the supporters: look, I am bringing you Salah, one of the biggest stars in the world,” said Dogan.

The club sold enough season tickets in the first four or five days after the announcement to cover about 70% of Salah’s annual salary. Trabzonspor originally aimed to sell 25,000 season tickets but now expects to pass 30,000, while major companies are negotiating sponsorship and commercial opportunities linked to the worldwide interest in Salah.

“We are currently holding important discussions in Turkey, Europe and the Arab world as well,” Dogan added.

Salah’s move came after nine outstanding seasons at Liverpool and surprised many observers. Before the transfer, expectations had centred on a possible move to the Saudi Pro League or a switch to the United States to play alongside Lionel Messi.

Dogan said the negotiations accelerated as soon as formal contact began.

“Once we started talking, both sides showed a very genuine desire to reach an agreement,” he said. “In fact, we had been trying to sign him since the World Cup, but at first we knew he was also negotiating with other clubs.”

Trabzonspor waited while other Turkish clubs were involved in talks with Salah, according to Dogan. When those clubs withdrew, Trabzonspor moved forward.

“After those clubs announced that they were pulling out of the deal, we began negotiations,” he said. “I think it took about five or six days to complete.”

The first discussion took place on Zoom and was intended simply as an introduction. Salah was then on holiday in Mykonos, before the talks resumed through the same platform.

Once an agreement had been reached, Trabzonspor arranged for Salah to undergo his medical in Istanbul rather than Trabzon. The club wanted him to experience the scale of his welcome in Turkey as a whole, not only in the city he had joined.

Thousands of supporters gathered at the airport despite his arrival taking place around the middle of a normal working day, underlining his popularity in the country.

Salah made his Trabzonspor debut in Istanbul, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 1-1 draw with Kasimpasa on the opening weekend of the Turkish league season.

He is now expected to make his first appearance at the club’s home ground in Trabzon, where anticipation is building around his debut.

Dogan summarised the bond between the city and its team in one sentence: “The whole city lives for football. Wherever you go, and in every corner, the city gives that player tremendous energy and happiness.”

After completing one of the biggest transfers in its history, Trabzonspor hopes Dogan’s broad smile at Salah’s presentation will come to represent the beginning of a new era for the Turkish club.