Former Liverpool star Mohamed Salah has officially joined Turkish Super Lig club Trabzonspor on a free transfer after bringing his nine-year spell at Anfield to an end.
The Egyptian forward signed a two-year contract with the Turkish side after reaching a mutual agreement with Liverpool to terminate his deal one year before its scheduled expiration. His departure followed a challenging final season, during which he lost his place in the starting lineup and had a highly publicized disagreement with then-head coach Arne Slot.
Salah leaves Liverpool as one of the club's greatest-ever players. During his time on Merseyside, he won seven major trophies and scored 257 goals in 442 appearances, making him Liverpool's third-highest goalscorer in history.
Although clubs from Saudi Arabia had shown strong interest in Salah for several years, his move to Turkey came as a surprise to many. His future became a major talking point after he gave a candid interview following his omission from the squad against Leeds last season. Less than three years earlier, Liverpool had rejected a reported £150 million offer from Saudi Pro League club Al Ittihad.
According to reports, Salah is expected to earn around £15 million per year at Trabzonspor. The financial package is considered highly attractive, particularly due to Turkey's favorable tax regulations for professional footballers. In addition, Trabzonspor are likely to compete in European football next season, with a strong possibility of qualifying for the UEFA Europa League, giving Salah the opportunity to continue playing on the continental stage.
The move has generated mixed reactions, with some believing it offers the ideal balance between financial rewards and competitive football.
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher admitted he was surprised by Salah's decision. He said he never expected the Egyptian to move to Saudi Arabia, believing the forward still possessed the quality to compete at the highest level in one of Europe's major leagues.
Carragher explained that he had anticipated Salah joining an Italian giant such as AC Milan or Juventus, although he acknowledged that the player's salary expectations may have complicated a transfer. He described Salah as an extremely ambitious footballer whose determination and personal standards remind him of Cristiano Ronaldo.
While Carragher recognized that Salah can continue producing impressive numbers in Turkey, he admitted he expected the former Liverpool forward to choose a club with greater historical prestige. In his opinion, playing at iconic venues like San Siro while competing regularly in elite European competitions would have been a more fitting next step.
Despite his reservations, Carragher acknowledged that Turkey remains a competitive destination with passionate supporters, even though he personally believes Salah is capable of performing at an even higher level.