Trabzonspor have strengthened their squad by signing former Liverpool midfielder Fabinho and mutually agreed to part ways with manager Fatih Tekke. According to Daily Sabah, the club shared a video on social media for the 32-year-old Brazilian free agent, inviting fans to Trabzon Airport. Fabinho was playing for Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad before joining Trabzonspor. He will reunite with his former Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah, who transferred to the club earlier this month. The club currently sits 11th in the Süper Lig, having taken 4 points from three matches. Their form in the last five official matches reads 1 win, 2 draws, and 2 losses (DLWDL), scoring 4 and conceding 4 goals.
How did the Fabinho transfer happen?
Daily Sabah reported the transfer was announced on Monday. Fabinho appeared in a video shared by the club on NSosyal, saying, "A familiar face is waiting for me in Trabzon and I am on my way. For us, everywhere is Trabzon." This statement used a catchphrase associated with the Black Sea club. Fabinho joined Liverpool from Monaco in 2018, making 219 appearances and scoring 11 goals as a defensive midfielder. He won the 2019 UEFA Champions League and the 2019-20 Premier League title with the English side. His arrival adds international experience to the squad and reunites his partnership with Salah after three years. You can check the current squad details on our squad page.
Why did Fatih Tekke leave?
BBC Turkish and Turkiye Today reported that Fatih Tekke's resignation came after Trabzonspor were eliminated from the UEFA Europa League play-off round, losing 5-0 on aggregate to Hungarian side Ferencváros. Tekke initially offered his resignation on Thursday, but the board rejected it, stating he would remain in charge for the Amedspor match. A final statement from the club on Wednesday said a "mutual understanding" was reached with Tekke and they decided to part ways "in line with Trabzonspor's interests and long-term objectives." The statement added, "Over his approximately 18-month tenure, Fatih Tekke brought significant value to Trabzonspor." Tekke had led the team to a third-place finish in the league last season with 69 points and won the Turkish Cup.
Who are the new manager candidates?
According to Hürriyet Spor, the Trabzonspor board is evaluating three major names for the new manager position. The most notable candidate on the list is Italian coach Antonio Conte, who has managed Juventus, Chelsea, Inter, Tottenham, and Napoli. Conte is known for high tempo, discipline, and a winning culture. Another name under consideration is Stefano Pioli, who led Milan to the Serie A title in the 2021-22 season. Pioli is recognized for player development and attacking organization. One of the strong candidates is also Sergio Conceição, who had long-term success at Porto. The Portuguese coach is known for an aggressive football philosophy and a strong character.
What is the current Süper Lig situation?
Trabzonspor started the season with 1 win, 1 draw, and 1 loss, placing 11th with 4 points. They are 3 points behind leaders Galatasaray. Their most recent match was a 1-1 draw against Kasımpaşa on 15 August 2026. You can follow the latest league standings on our standings page. The team's defense and attack are in balance, having scored 4 and conceded 4 goals so far. This gives them a zero goal difference. There is a long international break before their next Süper Lig match. Trabzonspor will face Samsunspor, who are 10th in the table, away on 11 October 2026. All fixture details are available on our fixtures page.
