Contract Details
Trabzonspor signed 34‑year‑old Egyptian star Mohamed Salah on a free transfer on 6 August 2024, securing a two‑year contract. Salah will earn 17 million euros per season (19.8 million dollars), with a 10 million euro base salary and a 7 million euro signing bonus. The contract also includes performance incentives and 20 % of revenue from merchandise bearing his name. His agents receive a 5 % commission on the gross fee. After an early mutual termination of his Liverpool contract, talks with several clubs, including Beşiktaş, failed to produce an agreement.
Social Media and Sales
After the transfer announcement, Trabzonspor gained about 1 million new followers across social‑media platforms. Instagram grew from 1.6 million to 2.6 million followers; videos related to Salah’s arrival generated over 150 million views. The signing ceremony in Akyazı attracted nearly 3 million interactions on a single post.
Demand for Salah’s No.10 jersey surged; a single municipal purchase involved more than 6,600 shirts. Season‑ticket sales reached 18,000, with 17,000 sold within 24 hours. Revenue projections from tickets, sponsorships and merchandise are estimated at about £22 million, helping offset the cost of his contract.
Tourism and Travel
Salah’s popularity spurred direct interest in Trabzonspor from Egypt. Egyptian supporters ordered jerseys and applied for club memberships. Turkish Airlines added flights between Cairo and Trabzon. Social‑media monitoring shows 74,700 mentions of “Trabzonspor” and “Salah” outside Turkey versus 59,600 inside.
First Match and Expectations
Salah made his competitive debut on 15 August, coming on in the 58th minute of a 1‑1 draw against Kasımpaşa and creating several chances. His first official home appearance is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. local time on Thursday, when Trabzonspor hosts Hungary’s Ferencváros in the first leg of the Europa League playoff at Papara Park. The 41,000‑capacity stadium is expected to be full. A win would place Trabzonspor in the Europa League group stage; elimination would send them to the Conference League. This match will also be coach Fatih Tekke’s first European fixture.
For Trabzonspor, the night extends beyond the result; the club’s social‑media audience has expanded, merchandise sales have surged, and international interest has reached unprecedented levels, turning the Black Sea club into a global talking point almost overnight.
