Newcastle United Sporting Director Defends Allan Saint-Maximin’s Transfer Fee
Newcastle United’s sporting director, Dan Ashworth, has defended the club’s decision to sell Allan Saint-Maximin to Saudi Pro League side Al Ahli for a fee believed to be around £25 million ($32 million). The transfer has faced criticism from other Premier League teams, who claim that the ownership of Al Ahli was used to inflate the player’s fee and help Newcastle comply with financial fair play rules. However, Ashworth insists that the sale represents fair market value.
The Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) acquired an 80% stake in Newcastle United earlier this year. They also took a 75% stake in four of the country’s football clubs, including Al Ahli. If Al Ahli were affiliated with UEFA, the transfer would have been blocked due to new multi-club ownership rules introduced in July.
Ashworth clarified that it was not Newcastle who targeted Saint-Maximin for a trade. Instead, another club expressed interest in the player, and both Newcastle and Saint-Maximin found the offer acceptable. He emphasized that the Premier League requires trades to be justified as fair market value, and Newcastle is confident that the transfer meets these criteria. Ashworth pointed out that there is plenty of evidence of players of similar age, position, ability, and CV moving for similar amounts outside the Saudi league.
Saint-Maximin is not the only player to have made a move from the Premier League to Saudi Arabia. Jordan Henderson, Kalidou Koulibaly, and N’Golo Kante are among the others who have made similar transfers. Newcastle wasted no time in replacing Saint-Maximin, signing Harvey Barnes from Leicester City for approximately £38 million. Barnes joins previous signings Sandro Tonali for £60 million and £40 million.
Newcastle’s chief executive, Darren Eales, acknowledged that the club is restricted by financial fair play regulations. He explained that different clubs are in different periods of the cycle, and tighter margins of error require more cautious spending. Since the takeover by the Saudi Arabian PIF, there has been significant investment in players, which must be accounted for under financial fair play rules. Eales expressed optimism about Newcastle’s positive growth trajectory and revenue increase but acknowledged the need for careful spending due to the club’s current revenue levels compared to the top six clubs.
Eales emphasized that Newcastle is always looking for opportunities within the financial fair play parameters. While he couldn’t comment on specific players or positions, he stated that the club is constantly seeking the right deals at the right prices. He acknowledged that financial fair play makes it more difficult to break into the top six but emphasized that it is not impossible with careful planning and spending.
The sale of Allan Saint-Maximin has sparked controversy and debate among Premier League teams. However, Newcastle United’s sporting director, Dan Ashworth, remains confident that the transfer represents fair market value. The club’s compliance with financial fair play rules and their strategic approach to player acquisitions demonstrate their commitment to long-term success. As Newcastle continues to navigate the challenges of financial fair play, they remain determined to break into the top six and compete with the league’s elite.