Allan Saint-Maximin: Winger leaves Newcastle for Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli - BBC Sport
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Allan Saint-Maximin: Winger leaves Newcastle for Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli

Last updated on .From the section Newcastlecomments719

Allan Saint-Maximin
Allan Saint-Maximin has made 124 appearances for Newcastle in all competitions, scoring 13 goals

Allan Saint-Maximin has left Newcastle United, joining Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli for an undisclosed fee.

The French forward, 26, becomes the fourth high profile player to join the Saudi Arabian champions this summer.

They have also signed Riyad Mahrez, Roberto Firmino and Edouard Mendy from Premier League clubs.

Saint-Maximin, who joined the Magpies from Nice in 2019 and scored 12 Premier League goals in 111 games, has signed a four-year deal.

On Saturday, Saint-Maximin confirmed he was leaving Newcastle with an emotional social media post, saying his "greatest trophy" was playing for the club.

"We pick the best, and he's one of them," Al-Ahli posted on messaging platform X, previously known as Twitter.

Al-Ahli are run by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), which also owns Newcastle.

Reports have claimed rival Premier League clubs are concerned that Saint-Maximin's transfer fee, which has not been disclosed, could be inflated in order to help Newcastle comply with Financial Fair Play regulations.

But manager Howe has said the transfer to Saudi "will satisfy the Premier League", while the league's chief executive Richard Masters insists its rules are "robust".

Newcastle sporting director Dan Ashworth said last year that the club must be open to selling players in order to comply with spending restrictions.

This summer, Howe has been able to bring in Italy midfielder Sandro Tonali from AC Milan for £55m and English winger Harvey Barnes from Leicester City for £38m.

'A deal born out of necessity'

Harry de Cosemo, BBC Sport

Saint-Maximin posted an emotional video confirming his Newcastle exit on Saturday, a day before the club did exactly the same thing.

That speaks volumes about the deal being born out of necessity, rather than desire from both sides.

Newcastle needed to sell a big name this summer to unlock a log jam caused by Financial Fair Play.

The Frenchman's obvious talent and ability to enthral, coupled with an injury record which allowed for just 12 league starts last season, meant those inside the club knew he was their most saleable asset.

Saint-Maximin was the brightest spark in a struggling team from the moment he arrived until the takeover in 2021. Under Steve Bruce, he almost single-handedly kept the club in the Premier League.

Supporters adored his openness off the pitch, too, whether through his unique approach to social media, donations to the local food bank, or when he bankrolled a shopping spree at a toy store for children in the area.

He had his limitations, namely consistency and work-rate in a defensive sense, which meant the team moved on once Howe instilled an incredible intensity to the squad. But he leaves a bigger impression than most.

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719 comments

  • Comment posted by Vox Populi, at 18:21 30 Jul 2023

    I’ve dreamt of playing for Al-Ahli myself since I was a little boy, so I can completely understand Saint-Maximin’s decision.I am sure he can’t wait and is looking forward to upcoming games against Al-Nasr, Al-Hilal, Al-Pacino, Al-Bundy, Al-Gore, Al-Jolson, Al-Murray, Al-Capone and You Can Call Me Al by Paul Simon.

    • Reply posted by Joseph Swan Lightbulb FC, at 18:25 30 Jul 2023

      Joseph Swan Lightbulb FC replied:
      Al-Inshirah and Al-Copops just got promoted too

  • Comment posted by D1699726676596, at 16:37 30 Jul 2023

    Thanks for everything ASM ❤️

    • Reply posted by The Mouse King, at 17:56 30 Jul 2023

      The Mouse King replied:
      I second that. Emotionally invested himself in the club and gave everything. One not to be forgotten by the Toon faithful.

  • Comment posted by RWJ, at 16:46 30 Jul 2023

    Thanks for trying your best for us Maxi, and your kind comments about our club, all the very best to you and your family.

  • Comment posted by Brian or Joey, at 16:41 30 Jul 2023

    Exciting, charismatic and loyal. A fantastic signing in the bleak times, Maxi provided sparks in an otherwise grey world for fans of black and white. He'll be a miss, but we won't forget his contribution, or his decency off the pitch. Best wishes for the next chapter Maxi

    • Reply posted by confluence, at 20:30 30 Jul 2023

      confluence replied:
      Think hes done very well. Obviously will be on much higher wages, leaving for a more competitive league and joining a team capable of winning silverware. Great career move.

  • Comment posted by JustPassingTheTime, at 16:37 30 Jul 2023

    If the fee is the rumoured £30m, then I am sad to see him to go so cheaply. He has given more, and has more to give, than the £35m we bought Barnes for. As a true Newcastle fan, I wish him luck and ask God to bless the rest of his career.

    • Reply posted by Naja, at 16:55 30 Jul 2023

      Naja replied:
      Barnes scored the same amount of goals last season as ASM has in 124 games for us. He's a great dribbler with no end product, poor work rate and he's always injured.

  • Comment posted by Mick S, at 18:30 30 Jul 2023

    ASM was a shining light in the dark days of Steve Bruce. Only "tactic" was to give it to ASM to run the length of the field as relief for an over-worked defence. Loved his passion and wish him all the best. The reported fee of £30M is way way below the market value and I am sick of the so called top six trying to cause trouble by questioning it when nothing is said about Watford/Udinese tie-up.

    • Reply posted by SL, at 18:33 30 Jul 2023

      SL replied:
      100% mate.

  • Comment posted by charlie chestnut, at 16:51 30 Jul 2023

    Any premier league club questioning this are ridiculous. In a league where Chelsea are needing to pay over 80 million for Caicedo who Brighton bought for under 10 million last season!

    • Reply posted by Sheffield 6, at 16:54 30 Jul 2023

      Sheffield 6 replied:
      In a league where Everton have lose over £600m in the last 3 years and face no FFP action.

      As long as the money flows Masters and the rest of the EPL dont care where it comes from.

  • Comment posted by Toontoon99, at 16:37 30 Jul 2023

    Exciting but never a Howe type of player. Good luck to him.

    • Reply posted by JustPassingTheTime, at 17:54 30 Jul 2023

      JustPassingTheTime replied:
      This last season he has proved you wrong. We have seen him transition into a hard worker who passed the ball well, but still had the ability to take on players. He would track back as well as push forward. The few times he had a prolonged period in the starting 11, he began to thrive.

  • Comment posted by Andy Nye, at 16:48 30 Jul 2023

    Once a Geordie always a Geordie. Bon voyage Alan

    • Reply posted by Ftmlee, at 17:56 30 Jul 2023

      Ftmlee replied:
      Geordie 😂 your probably not from Northumberland either

  • Comment posted by J-Dizzle, at 17:08 30 Jul 2023

    A bit of a strange one. Unlike everyone else who's gone to Saudi, this guy hasn't peaked yet.

    • Reply posted by Steve, at 17:21 30 Jul 2023

      Steve replied:
      That's debateable

  • Comment posted by unknown, at 17:20 30 Jul 2023

    Thanks for everything Allan Saint-Maximin.❤️❤️❤️

    • Reply posted by Ftmlee, at 17:57 30 Jul 2023

      Ftmlee replied:
      He's off to win silverware

  • Comment posted by stuey, at 18:57 30 Jul 2023

    Good luck ASM
    Man of the people

    Take care bonny lad

    • Reply posted by ajackson, at 15:46 31 Jul 2023

      ajackson replied:
      You Geordies are such nice people, genuinely

  • Comment posted by DrNige, at 16:58 30 Jul 2023

    Thought the article was about ASM? Good luck, played a vital role in a very weak team before Howe took over and done his bit. Consistency was his only fault.

    • Reply posted by Bill, at 17:06 30 Jul 2023

      Bill replied:
      Or maybe even lack of consistency.

  • Comment posted by chris, at 16:39 30 Jul 2023

    Always saw him as like owning a racehorse on LSD. All very exciting, but almost entirely pointless. 13 goals in 124 apps and not many more assists is a poor return for so much fanfare

    • Reply posted by Sam, at 17:39 30 Jul 2023

      Sam replied:
      Bit like Adama Traore.

  • Comment posted by Clem, at 16:34 30 Jul 2023

    Good luck to him.

    • Reply posted by confluence, at 20:28 30 Jul 2023

      confluence replied:
      Hes done well, leaving a small club and going to a bigger club on higher wages in a league that features the all time GOAT. Good luck to him.

  • Comment posted by bob, at 16:52 30 Jul 2023

    He sounds like someone out of John Rawls' "A theory of justice"
    But seriously - I think sport was much more fun when people played for teams based on towns/cities/regions/countries with which they had a real connection - rather than being sold off to the highest bidding global brand. That's not racism, no-one would deny that Moeen Ali is a great Brummie, but it would make sports more authentic

    • Reply posted by IDrinkYourMilkshake, at 16:54 30 Jul 2023

      IDrinkYourMilkshake replied:
      When Celtic won the European Cup in 1967 all 11 players were born within a mile of Celtic Park.

      I think there's something special about that.

  • Comment posted by Bill Carson, at 17:13 30 Jul 2023

    He might have been an interesting impact player in the Champions League, he's been sold as there's a lot of deadwood in that squad from the Ashley era thats of minimal value and difficult to shift.

    • Reply posted by Laughing Gnome, at 05:24 31 Jul 2023

      Laughing Gnome replied:
      Unplayable at his best. Unplayable at his worst.

  • Comment posted by Rofflecopter, at 16:35 30 Jul 2023

    Exciting player, but 13 goals in 124 appearances tells the story as to why he's off.

    • Reply posted by Jonathan Hornby, at 17:54 30 Jul 2023

      Jonathan Hornby replied:
      Goals per appearances is a pointless and misleading statistic, especially when a player has made so many appearances as a substitute. Goals per 90 minutes is a far more useful statistic, and ASM's GP90 is close to 0.25, which is fine. More importantly though, it was the excitement he brought that made him such a popular player to Newcastle fans, especially during the Bruce years.

  • Comment posted by Alan Vaughan, at 18:26 30 Jul 2023

    Kyle Walker will be pleased to see the back of him.

  • Comment posted by AndyT, at 17:46 30 Jul 2023

    Not always the most effective player on the park but always entertaining, will be missed.

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