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Trabzonspor have made a major statement of intent by giving their new superstar Mohamed Salah the richest contract ever seen in Turkish football. The former Liverpool forward has put pen to paper on a two-year deal after agreeing to end his Anfield contract one year early, bringing his remarkable nine-year stay in England to a close.

Trabzonspor were in need of a proven match-winner who could help reduce the gap to Galatasaray and Fenerbahce after they ended last season in third place.

Their summer transfer business has now been transformed by the signing of a worldwide star who offers goals, leadership and huge commercial appeal without the club having to pay a transfer fee.

Figures first linked to Bloomberg have also been reported by The Sun, which says Mohamed Salah will earn a basic salary of about €17 million per season.

That comes to roughly £280,000 per week, before any extra payments are added.

The deal is also said to include a €5 million signing-on bonus, which could push his overall weekly income to more than £360,000.

This package moves him ahead of Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen, whose reported €15 million yearly salary had previously been the highest standard in Turkey.

The Guardian further reports that the contract features an image-rights agreement as well as a share of income generated from shirt sales.

That provision could prove especially valuable because Salah is not simply a footballer for Trabzonspor, he is now their biggest commercial figure on the global stage.

The agreement is costly, but Trabzonspor would not have been able to bring in a player of this stature through sporting ambition alone.

Interest from clubs in Europe, Major League Soccer and the Saudi Pro League gave Salah a number of options, meaning the Turkish club had to come forward with an outstanding financial offer.

From a football point of view, his finishing, creativity and experience should give an instant lift to Fatih Tekke’s attack.

He also arrives with the mindset of a player who won two Premier League titles and the Champions League with Liverpool.

The commercial element makes the contract especially intriguing. Trabzonspor are effectively betting that shirt sales, increased sponsorship and global exposure will cover a significant share of the overall cost.

That is far from certain, particularly for a club competing outside Europe’s wealthiest leagues.

Even so, this is more than an ordinary transfer. Trabzonspor have signed a global icon who could turn a side that finished third into a serious title challenger.