Drogheda United could be set to come up against Mohamed Salah after the League of Ireland side confirmed an October date with Turkish outfit Trabzonspor.
The sides will meet at Papara Park on 1 October, marking the first time the Louth club have played in Turkey.
It comes as Ireland and Turkey celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations in 2026.
Drogheda are one of Trabzonspor’s three sister clubs along with Turkish clubs Sanlıurfaspor and Siirt Provincial Special Administration Sport.
The game will be accompanied by a documentary to be aired on Turkish TV – ‘An Gorta Mór – The Star & The Crescent’ – exploring the story of Ottoman humanitarian assistance during the Irish Famine.
Speaking on the RTÉ Soccer podcast back in 2020, former Drogs PRO Roisin Philips explained how the relationship between the clubs has flourished.
“It goes back far longer than 2011 when they announced that we’d become their sister club,” she said.
“In fact it goes back to the Great Famine in 1845. Drogheda had links with Turkey as a result of the Sultan at the time sending aid over to the Irish people. Boats came up the Boyne in Drogheda. He also sent £1,000 at the time.
“There’s been a long history of co-operation between the two countries, from the Turkish side to Ireland.”
Taking place during the three-week international break, the trip will serve as a late-season mini-camp for Drogheda. Salah’s Egypt face South Sudan in African Cup of Natiosn qualifying on 27 September, so the former Liverpool may not feature in the friendly.
Trabzonspor’s Super Lig campaign will also resume the following week after a break, with Salah and Co facing a trip to Samsunspor.
The Turkish side have built a star-studded side in recent years with names including Salah, who joined after ending a highly successful spell with Liverpool, his former Anfield team-mate Fabinho and ex-Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana.