Difficult to believe that it is less than two years since Allan Saint-Maximin left Newcastle United.

The French winger not happy about leaving St James’ Park and Eddie Howe stating that he’d like to have kept ASM

However, his £23m sale to Al-Ahli on 30 July 2023 helped United bring in Sandro Tonali. Harvey Barnes, Yankuba Minteh, Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento that transfer window.

That £23m remains the highest transfer fee brought in so far, during these eight transfer windows under Eddie Howe and the current Newcastle United owners.

Which underlines why things became so difficult from a PSR perspective when trying to balance the ins and outs. Bottom line was that the Mike Ashley and Steve Bruce legacy meant very few players inherited by Eddie Howe, who could be sold for significant money, indeed any money in many cases.

After a season with Al-Ahli, Allan Saint-Maximin has spent the last year on loan at Fenerbahce. With only 18 starts and nine sub appearances in the Turkish league and in the Europa League, bringing four goals and four assists, it appears ASM will very shortly be on the move again, though not back to Saudi Arabia.

Instead, GFFN have reported (see below) that Allan Saint-Maximim has stated he will soon be back playing in France where it all began for him.

I think it was always on the cards that Allan Saint-Maximim would lead a nomadic existence and indeed, his four years at Newcastle United were easily his longest spell at any club so far.

Indeed, if ASM signs for a new club, it will be the ninth he will have played for.

Allan Saint-Maximim having played already for Saint Etienne, Monaco, Hannover 96, Bastia, Nice, Newcastle United, Al-Ahli and Fenerbahce.

In his final season at Newcastle United, Allan Saint-Maximim contributed one Premier League and five assists as United finished fourth in the 2022/23 season, ASM making more PL sub appearances (13) that season than starts (12).

He will always be best remembered though as a Newcastle United player who lit up the misery of the two full seasons we spent with Steve Bruce employed by Mike Ashley.

GFFN (Get French Football News) report on Allan Saint-Maximin – 1 July 2025:

‘Allan Saint-Maximin (28) has not played in Ligue 1 since leaving OGC Nice to join Newcastle United back in 2019, however, he has said he will soon make a return to France.

The former France youth international spent last season on loan at Fenerbahçe from Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro League. However, his intention is seemingly not to return to the Gulf State but instead to return to his native France.

Prior to his departure from France, the winger came through the academy at AS Saint-Étienne, before joining AS Monaco and also spending a season on loan at SC Bastia. He joined Nice back in 2017 for €10m and he has now revealed a preference to re-join Le Gym.

“My heart is in Nice. Maybe one day I will return there,” said Saint-Maximin, who nonetheless said that an imminent return to France is on the cards. “I will return to France soon. It will do me some good […] stay tuned! I have two or three things to sort out, but I will be back soon,” he told content creator Sisinho06.’