Newcastle United signed several memorable players during the infamous ‘French Revolution’ in the 2010s.
During Alan Pardew’s time as Newcastle United boss, he welcomed the likes of Yohan Cabaye, Moussa Sissoko and Matheu Debuchy.
Mehdi Abeid was one of the first to come through the door during that time. At 18, he impressed during a trial and was offered a five-year contract with the Magpies in 2011.
Abeid became friends with Cheik Tiote during the trial and the pair formed an unbreakable bond from then on. At a young age, Abeid was eager to impress and did so when he made his debut for Newcastle’s first team in a League Cup game against Nottingham Forest. He was part of the squad that remarkably finished fifth in the Premier League, helping the Magpies qualify for the Europa League.
Abeid was also a part of the last Newcastle team to beat Manchester City at the Etihad in 2014. Newcastle were well beaten by Man City on Saturday, despite confidence amongst Newcastle fans The squad also featured a young Rolando Aarons who scored in the cup tie.
Aarons helped NK Celje win the Slovenian First Division in 2024. However, in 2025 it was revealed that Aarons is now without a club.
While Newcastle are now in a new era, those within the club had high hopes for Abeid before being forced out of the club in 2015.
Alan Pardew rated Mehdi Abeid highly at Newcastle
Abeid never truly left his mark on Newcastle like fans thought he would have. But Pardew believed he had found something special in the Algerian international.
In an interview with the Athletic in 2020, Abeid opened up on his time at the club and how a loan move to Panathinaikos led by former Newcastle man Nikos Dabizas allowed Pardew to see his potential after he helped them win the Greek Cup.
“It was only the Greek league but to play first-team games, to win a cup and prove myself, was important,” Abeid said.
“I came back to Newcastle stronger because Pardew saw something else in me. I had more respect internally at Newcastle. I felt different, more capable and confident. Newcastle saw it too; I returned a different player.”
Abeid was a regular feature in Newcastle’s matchday squads for the 2014/15 season until Pardew left for Crystal Palace in January 2015. Abeid ended the season with 16 appearances but his form suffered under the tutelage of caretaker boss John Carver. Despite being asked to stay by Mike Ashley, Carver left and Steve McClaren was appointed head coach ahead of the 2015/16 season, he told Abeid to look for a new club.
On his exit, Abeid said: “I was 23 and they still hadn’t found me a club to go on loan to in August so, when Panathinaikos, where I had done well, offered me Europa League football, I went somewhere the manager wanted me.
“It wasn’t what I wanted. I wanted to sign a new contract with Newcastle, maybe get loaned out and come back even stronger, but the coach didn’t have that faith. Sometimes in life, you have to make choices you don’t like. I never wanted to leave Newcastle. Never, ever.”
Mehdi Abeid’s career after leaving Newcastle
In 2025, Abeid, who is now 32, plays for Saudi Pro League side Al-Raed.
Abeid only spent one season with Panathinaikos before signing for Ligue 1 side Dijon. After three years he moved to FC Nantes but failed to make an impact in their squad, making 29 appearances in two seasons.
Moves to Al-Nasr, Khor Fakkan and Istanbul Basaksehir followed before Abeid landed in Saudi Arabia in 2024.
The midfielder has enjoyed a lot of game time this season, making 19 appearances in all competitions. However, Al-Raed are currently sat 16th in the table and are at risk of relegation after a run of nine straight defeats.
Newcastle fans will be left wondering what could have been for Abeid, who was highly rated by Pardew during his time on Tyneside. McClaren’s Newcastle side suffered with a slew of injuries during the 2015/16 season. If he decided to keep Abeid, he would have been a likely asset in what was a lacklustre season which saw the Magpies relegated to the Championship.
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