July 31 – Allan Saint-Maximin has become the latest player to swap the Premier League for the Saudi Pro League after leaving Newcastle United to join Al-Ahli for a reported transfer fee of £30 million.
The French forward becomes the fourth high-profile player from England to join the Saudi Arabian champions this summer following the additions of Riyad Mahrez, Roberto Firmino and Edouard Mendy.
Saint-Maximin has signed a four-year deal, fuelling the ongoing debate about the exodus to Saudi football.
“We pick the best, and he’s one of them,” Al-Ahli said in a statement.
Newcastle needed to sell a big name this summer to unlock a log jam caused by Financial Fair Play. However, if Al-Ahly had been a European club the deal would likely have been blocked under UEFA’s new multi-club ownership rules that were introduced last month.
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) owns 75% of Al-Ahli and 80% of Newcastle, respectively.
A number of Premier League clubs are said to be preparing a formal complaint that the transfer exceeds market value and that the transfer is a way to inject more capital into Newcastle.
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