Allan Saint-Maximin has announced his departure from Newcastle as he prepares for a likely move to the wealthy Saudi Pro League.
The French winger, who has been strongly linked with a £30 million ($38.5 million) transfer to Al-Ahli, bid farewell to the Premier League club in a heartfelt message posted on his Instagram account.
In his message, he expressed his love for the club and reminisced about their journey from battling relegation to achieving an impressive fourth-placed finish last season.
Under the management of Eddie Howe, Newcastle has been making significant investments since the club’s takeover by Saudi-backed owners in October 2021.
Saint-Maximin, 26, said: “I fell for Newcastle, I had great opportunities to leave during dark days, but that was too late. I was already in love, I wanted, I needed, I had to stay for helping my team to save the club from Premier League relegation because it meant the world for me.
“Of course during those dark days some may have had their doubts, but I always believed in this club and look where we are today, it’s just so beautiful.
I’m leaving Newcastle as it should always have been and that’s my greatest trophy because I was a part of it.”
Saint-Maximin has made 124 appearances for the club and scored 13 goals since joining from Nice in 2019.
A growing list of high-profile players have moved to Saudi Arabia.
Roberto Firmino, Riyad Mahrez and Edouard Mendy have already signed for Al-Ahli, while Karim Benzema, Jordan Henderson and N’Golo Kante have also joined Pro League clubs in recent weeks.