Mohamed Salah touched down in Istanbul on Wednesday, already wearing Trabzonspor's burgundy and blue, as hundreds of fans mobbed the airport for a glimpse of the Egyptian forward. The club's chairman, Ertugrul Dogan, has confirmed a signing ceremony is planned for Thursday in the Black Sea city, with the 34-year-old arriving on a free transfer from Liverpool. Main Developments Trabzonspor announced negotiations with Salah a day before his arrival, and Dogan stated the club expects to finalize the deal at a formal ceremony. Salah addressed supporters directly in a video posted to the club's X account, declaring, "Trabzon, are you ready? I can hear you. See you very soon," and adding the club's motto, "Everywhere is Trabzon to us." Read also: Why a stray SpaceX rocket just slammed into the moon At Ataturk Airport, the forward waved to the crowd and led supporters in a traditional chant before heading for a medical check. He is scheduled to fly east to Trabzon later, where the transfer is expected to be completed. Background Salah departed Liverpool this summer after a nine-year spell that produced 257 goals in 442 appearances, along with two Premier League titles and one Champions League trophy. His final full season with the club was historic: 29 league goals and 18 assists, equalling the record for most goal involvements in a single campaign while setting the mark for a 38-game season. That form earned him the Premier League Player of the Season award, the Golden Boot, and the Playmaker Award — the first time any player swept all three in one campaign. His output dipped last season, however, with seven goals and seven assists in 27 league matches, and a public dispute with then-manager Arne Slot followed after he was benched in Champions League fixtures. Before Liverpool, Salah began his European career at Basel in 2012, moved to Chelsea, and had short spells at Fiorentina and AS Roma between 2015 and 2017. Trabzonspor, considered the fourth biggest club in Turkiye behind Fenerbahce, Galatasaray, and Besiktas, finished third in the Super Lig last season and will enter the Europa League playoff round. Why It Matters The move gives Trabzonspor a marquee signing with proven elite-level pedigree, a rare coup for a club outside Istanbul's big three. For Salah, the transfer extends a decorated career into a new league, though his recent decline in form and the acrimonious end at Liverpool raise questions about what version of the player Turkiye will see. What's Next The signing ceremony is set for Thursday, with Salah expected to put pen to paper on a free transfer. Contract details have not been disclosed, though local media reported Salah was previously close to joining Besiktas before negotiations stalled over financial and image-rights demands.