July 30, French winger, Allan Saint-Maximin, has bid farewell to Newcastle United, making a high-profile move to the Saudi Pro League to join Al-Ahli.
The 26-year-old, who spent four fruitful years at St James’ Park, will reunite with renowned players Roberto Firmino and Riyad Mahrez in what seems to be a continuing trend of top-tier footballers flocking to Saudi Arabia. However, the deal has drawn criticism due to the Saudi Public Investment Fund’s majority ownership in both Newcastle and Al-Ahli, raising questions about the fairness and transparency of the transfer.
During his time with the Magpies, Saint-Maximin grew in footballing quality, netting 13 goals in 124 appearances. Nonetheless, his progress was hampered by persistent injuries in recent seasons. The specifics of the transfer fee remain undisclosed, leaving fans curious about the financial details of the move. Newcastle United thanked the former France youth international, acknowledging his valuable contributions to the club and community, and extended their best wishes for his future endeavours with Al-Ahli.
As the Saudi Pro League continues to attract top names, the arrival of Allan Saint-Maximin further bolsters the league’s reputation on the global footballing stage. However, the intertwining ownership of both Newcastle United and Al-Ahli by the Saudi Public Investment Fund raises eyebrows and invites scrutiny into the transparency of such deals.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
