Clubs to raise concerns with Premier League over potential Allan Saint-Maximin transfer to Saudi Ara

June 27, 2024

A number of clubs plan to raise concerns with the Premier League regarding the proposed move of Allan Saint-Maximin from Newcastle United to Saudi Pro League side Al Ahli.

The reported £30million ($38.6m) deal for the French winger would be between two teams under the same majority ownership — Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).

Premier League regulations dictate that all transactions above the cost of £1million — whether or not they involve associated parties — are now checked to make sure they do not exceed “market value”.

Several English top-flight teams claim the PIF link is being used to inflate Saint-Maximin’s apparent fee and disguise an injection of capital as a transfer fee, in order to help Newcastle comply with financial fair play rules.

They will ask the division to explain how it establishes market value in such situations and — having expressed similar dissatisfaction over commercial agreements — want greater scrutiny and transparency around the process.

Newcastle are very comfortable with their valuation of 26-year-old Saint-Maximin.

Their takeover in October 2021 was approved by the league after it received “legally binding assurances” the Saudi state would not control the club.

PIF owns 80 per cent of Newcastle with Amanda Staveley’s PCP Capital Partners and the Reuben family each holding a 10 per cent stake.

In June, Saudi Arabia announced PIF would take a 75 per cent stake in four founding members of its Pro League — Al Ahli, Al Ittihad, Al Hilal and Al Nassr — with the other 25 per cent controlled by a non-profit organisation.

That has led to a host of high-profile players from Europe, such as Karim Benzema, Roberto Firmino and Chelsea trio Edouard Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly and N’Golo Kante, joining Cristiano Ronaldo in the SPL. While Benzema and Firmino are among players who sealed free transfers to Saudi Arabia, Ruben Neves has joined Al Hilal in a €55m move and highly-rated midfielder Seko Fofana has swapped Lens for Al Nassr in a €25m deal.

Ronaldo headed from Manchester United to Al Nassr in January, while Lionel Messi turned down a switch in favour of signing for Inter Miami in MLS.

The Athletic reported on Tuesday that Saint-Maximin was speaking with Al Ahli over a possible move.

He was not in the Newcastle squad for Tuesday’s friendly win over Rangers, with head coach Eddie Howe confirming the attacker was in talks to exit, and has not since joined up with the club for their pre-season tour in the United States.

If Al Ahli were UEFA-affiliated, the possibility would be blocked because of new multi-club ownership rules introduced earlier this month.

Howe said Newcastle are reluctant to lose Saint-Maximin but may have to for FFP.

“Allan is in discussions regarding a move to another club,” Howe said following the 2-1 victory at Rangers. “Nothing is confirmed, nothing is done. But that’s why he wasn’t here today. With Financial Fair Play you have to trade, for us we were stuck in a position where we could not trade players the other way.

“That’s how FFP works. We understand that. Maxi is a top player and we definitely don’t want to lose him we want to strengthen the group. Sometimes these things happen and we have to accept that.”

GO DEEPER

Newcastle United, Allan Saint-Maximin and FFP - 'You can't hit it, if you don't trade'

(Photo: Vince Mignott/MB Media/Getty Images)

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