Victor Osimhen overtaken by Salah: Breakdown of Egyptian’s €17m bumper Trabzonspor deal

Mohamed Salah’s arrival at Trabzonspor has not only shaken Turkish football but also ended Victor Osimhen’s brief reign as the highest-paid player in the Süper Lig, Afrik-Foot reports.

The Egyptian icon has completed a sensational free transfer after leaving Liverpool, signing what is considered the most lucrative contract in Turkish football history.

🚨💣 BREAKING: Mo Salah to Trabzonspor, here we go! Club confirms agreement in place for the Egyptian striker.

Salah joins on two year deal as free agent after leaving Liverpool. pic.twitter.com/JhILAobRvE

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 4, 2026

While Osimhen’s blockbuster move to Galatasaray last summer established a new financial benchmark in the league, Trabzonspor have now surpassed it in their bid to challenge the traditional dominance of Galatasaray and Fenerbahce.

Salah’s €17m salary is only part of the story

According to Goal, Salah will earn a guaranteed €17 million net salary per season on his contract with Trabzonspor.

However, that figure represents only the fixed component of an even bigger financial package.

Additional reports indicate the agreement also includes substantial performance bonuses, commercial incentives and a percentage of shirt sales, potentially pushing his annual earnings to around €23 million.

That would comfortably make Salah the highest-paid footballer in Turkish football history.

Trabzonspor’s investment also reflects their belief that Salah’s global profile will generate significant commercial returns beyond his performances on the pitch.

The club prepared around 100,000 Salah shirts ahead of his official unveiling, highlighting the commercial impact they expect from the transfer.

How does it compare with Victor Osimhen?

When Galatasaray signed Osimhen from Napoli, the Nigerian striker also received one of the biggest contracts ever offered in Turkish football.

According to Galatasaray’s official announcement, Osimhen earns:

• €15 million net annual salary
• €1 million loyalty bonus every season
• €5 million annually for image rights

That means Osimhen’s guaranteed yearly package is worth approximately €21 million.

While his fixed salary remains lower than Salah’s €17 million basic wage, the inclusion of loyalty and image-rights payments had previously made the Super Eagles striker Turkish football’s highest earner.

Why Trabzonspor were willing to break the bank

Unlike Galatasaray, who invested heavily in one of Europe’s most prolific centre-forwards primarily for sporting reasons, Trabzonspor’s decision goes beyond football.

At 34, Salah remains one of the biggest names in world football despite leaving Liverpool after nearly a decade at Anfield.

His arrival immediately elevates Trabzonspor’s global visibility, strengthens sponsorship opportunities and increases merchandise sales.

The club also had to fend off interest from Saudi Arabia and domestic rivals Besiktas, making a record-breaking financial proposal almost unavoidable.

From Trabzonspor’s perspective, Salah is expected to repay part of that investment through commercial growth as much as through goals.

What it means for Turkish football

The financial battle between Turkish clubs has reached a new level. Galatasaray shocked Europe by convincing Osimhen to join permanently, while Trabzonspor have responded by landing one of Africa’s greatest-ever footballers.

Both transfers underline the growing financial ambition of Turkish football. For Osimhen, however, being overtaken as the league’s highest earner changes little on the pitch.

Salah, meanwhile, faces the challenge of justifying a contract that makes him not only Trabzonspor’s biggest signing ever but also the highest-paid player Turkish football has ever seen.