French winger Allan Saint-Maximin bids farewell to Newcastle United as he officially joins Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Ahli on a three-year contract. Both clubs confirmed the transfer on Sunday, but the financial details were not disclosed.
In a statement on messaging platform X, formerly known as Twitter, Al-Ahli expressed their delight in securing the talented winger, highlighting that they choose the best, and Saint-Maximin is undoubtedly one of them.
The 26-year-old joined Newcastle from Ligue 1 side Nice in 2019, and now he will be teaming up with former Premier League stars Roberto Firmino, Edouard Mendy, and Riyad Mahrez at Al-Ahli.
Saint-Maximin’s exclusion from Newcastle’s pre-season tour of the United States was attributed to the club’s need to comply with UEFA’s Financial Fair Play Regulations, requiring them to sell a player during this transfer window.
Al-Ahli is owned by the Public Investment Fund, Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, which also holds an 80% stake in Newcastle United.
Joining a growing list of high-profile players heading to the Middle East, Saint-Maximin follows in the footsteps of notable names such as Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante, and Ruben Neves, who have all moved to the region. Cristiano Ronaldo’s earlier transfer to Al-Nassr in January further showcases the allure of the Middle Eastern football scene.
