The foundations of Samsunspor were laid in 1927 with the merger of Türkocağı Sports Branch and Alyıldız İdman Ocağı. The club officially stepped into professional football on June 30, 1965, by submitting its application, and its establishment was approved by the Turkish Directorate General of Physical Education on July 19, 1965.

Formed through the merger of 19 Mayıs, Akınspor, Fener Gençlik, Samsunspor Gençlik, and Samsun Galatasaray clubs, Samsunspor became the first representative of the Black Sea Region in professional football, adopting the red-and-white colors and the horse-head emblem.

Samsunspor played its first professional league match on September 5, 1965, against Yeşildirek, securing a 1-0 victory with a goal from Nihat Serçeme.

In the 1966–67 season, the club won the 2nd Division White Group championship and was promoted to the 1st Division. In the 1969–70 season, it earned the title of the first Black Sea representative to compete in Turkey’s top league. During these years, youth development and institutional structuring were strengthened, integrating the city and football.

The 1980s marked one of the brightest periods in Samsunspor’s history. In the 1985–86 season, under head coach Fahrettin Genç, Tanju Çolak became the Süper Lig’s top scorer with 33 goals, while the team finished 3rd in the league.

In the 1986–87 season, Tanju Çolak again claimed the top scorer title with 25 goals, with Samsunspor once more finishing 3rd and reaching the semi-finals of the Turkish Cup. This era saw the club recognized as one of “Anatolia’s strong representatives.”

On January 20, 1989, while traveling to an away match in Malatya, the team bus was involved in a tragic traffic accident near Havza. Head Coach Nuri Asan, players Muzaffer Badalıoğlu, Mete Adanır, Zoran Tomic, and the bus driver lost their lives, while many other players and technical staff were seriously injured.

The date “January 20” remains deeply engraved in the club’s memory and is commemorated with respect every year.

Following the tragedy, the team was relegated from the Süper Lig in the 1989–90 season. Although it returned in the 1990–91 season, relegation struck again in 1991–92.

In the 1992–93 season, Samsunspor returned to the Süper Lig as champions.

In the 1993–94 season, Samsunspor reached the semi-finals of the Turkish Cup and, in the same season, won the Balkan Cup, becoming one of the few Anatolian clubs to lift a European trophy.

The club also competed in the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 1996–97 and 1998. In 1998, it eliminated England’s Crystal Palace to reach the semi-finals but was defeated by Werder Bremen.

The top scorer tradition that began with Tanju Çolak continued in the 1998–99 season when Serkan Aykut scored 30 goals to become Süper Lig’s top scorer.

Players such as Serkan Aykut, Celil Sağır, and Ertuğrul Sağlam earned legendary status in the club’s history.

Relegated from the Süper Lig in the 2005–06 season, Samsunspor returned in 2010–11 but was again relegated in 2011–12.

Due to financial crises, the club came under trustee management in 2016 and entered a restructuring process.

In 2018, Robert Yüksel Yıldırım took over the club, initiating comprehensive reforms in financial, administrative, and sporting areas: Debts were restructured, and financial discipline was established. Investments in youth development and facilities accelerated. A modern management model was implemented with a professional structure.

In the 2019–20 season, Samsunspor won the TFF 2nd Division championship and was promoted to the 1st Division. In the 2022–23 season, the club returned to the Süper Lig as champions.

In its return season to the Süper Lig, despite a FIFA-imposed transfer ban, the squad was strengthened. The season began below expectations, but under new head coach Markus Gisdol, the team made a remarkable comeback, climbing from the relegation zone to finish 13th and secure top-flight survival.

Entering the 2024–25 season under head coach Thomas Reis, Samsunspor maintained a consistent performance, staying in 3rd place for much of the league campaign.

In the final week, the team achieved a historic 2-1 comeback victory over Kayserispor with a decisive goal in the 90+8th minute, finishing the season in 3rd place and earning a spot in the UEFA Europa League play-off round. This achievement secured one of the brightest chapters in the club’s history.