Allan Saint-Maximin: back with a flip

Journeyman Allan Saint-Maximin is back in Ligue 1 McDonald's over six years after he left to join Newcastle United. He returned with a bang... and a trademark backflip.

Back to the comfort of France

Saint-Maximin has always been a maverick. Blessed with incredible technical ability, it was at OGC Nice that he began to display it regularly. His style, his audacity, and his positivity on the ball made him a fan favourite at the Allianz Riviera, prior to his big-money move over the Channel back in 2019.

In his first overseas experience, there was no question of him retreating into his shell. As identifiable by his dribbles as he is his headbands, the St James' Park faithful quickly warmed to a winger who had one of the most prestigious of routes into the game, through AS Monaco's prestigious La Diagonale academy.

At no other club has Saint-Maximin made more appearances than at Newcastle, where he pulled on the white and black of the Tyneside club on 124 occasions, scoring 13 times and registering 21 assists.

But his departure on 2023 would prove to be the start of a world tour. He departed for Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli but one year later found himself at Turkish club Fenerbahce on loan. However, it did not prove to be an enjoyable stint in Turkey for the Frenchman, who would accuse the club of making him try to break doping rules. Fenerbahce, in turn, expressed their "astonishment" at the accusations.

Allan Saint-Maximin in action 🪄 pic.twitter.com/IwsXmwuYBW
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) February 9, 2026

In any case, it wasn't an enjoyable stint for Saint-Maximin, who then travelled to Mexico for fresh momentum and happiness. And whilst he would register five goal involvements in 15 games for América, his time there was tainted by racist abuse suffered by his children at school. "Hate and discrimination don't have a place in our society," Saint-Maximin would state on social media, announcing his exit earlier in 2026.

Last summer, Saint-Maximin said that he would "soon" return to Ligue 1 McDonald's and so it proved. The Frenchman had been something of a globetrotter, but successive difficult experiences have seen him return to the comfort of his native country... and to RC Lens.

Saint-Maximin, Sage's X-Factor

Saint-Maximin returns to the top-flight at the age of 28, still in his prime years, and he immediately gave us a reminder of what he can offer. Prior to his debut, a 3-1 win over Rennes, Pierre Sage said that Saint-Maximin could bring the "X-Factor" amid a title challenge. The former Lyon manager was immediately proven correct.

He came on in a difficult context. Granted, Les Sang et Or were 2-1 up, but just moments earlier, Lens had gone down to 10 men due to Ruben Aguilar's red card. And in one action, he justified his recruitment. "I simply thought about what I worked on since my tender youth: controlling the ball, isolating my opponent, dribbling around him, and finishing off with a shot," said the former Nice winger. That shot, driven from 25 yards, would beat Mathys Silistrie in the Rennes goal and ensure that Lens provisionally overtook PSG to go back top of Ligue 1 McDonald's. And then came the iconic acrobatic celebration, for which he has become renowned.

"In one substitute appearance, he showed why the club bought him," said club captain Adrien Thomasson. What a way to sign your return to Ligue 1 McDonald's, six-and-a-half years on.

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