Recaps

Maël earned an Arsenal contract after impressing in a trial match, then joined Gilbert on loan to Sheffield United. While the team struggled and left them off its match squads, Maël trained to improve and waited for his chance to play.

• Maël scored twice against Liverpool U17 as Arsenal’s trial players fought back to a 3–3 draw, impressing Wenger and earning a professional contract.
• Maël and Gilbert signed Arsenal First Team contracts and agreed to join Sheffield United on loan, where Joelson told them the club needed help avoiding relegation.
• Maël and Gilbert settled in Sheffield and trained together, with Maël developing his crossing and dribbling skills.
• After Gareth Speed welcomed them as official Sheffield United players, Maël scored and assisted in an intrasquad match, earning praise from the coaches.
• Maël and Gilbert trained through preseason as Maël improved his skills and resolved to compete for a starting place.
• Wenger read a positive loan report on Maël and arranged for a scout to follow him and Gilbert whenever they made Sheffield United’s match squad.
• Maël and Gilbert watched Sheffield United lose 4–0 to Queens Park Rangers, then learned the team had also lost 2–0 to Hartlepool United in the EFL Cup while they were left out of the squad.

Maël earned a place in Sheffield United’s lineup and quickly became a match-winning scorer under Gareth Speed. His performances raised his wages, profile, and market value, while Jorge Mendes began monitoring him.

• Gareth Speed took charge after Kevin was dismissed and named Maël and Gilbert in his new lineup.
• Maël made his debut against Cardiff City, assisting Evans and Gilbert as Sheffield United won 2–1.
• Maël scored and assisted in Sheffield United’s 4–1 victory over Preston, earning Man of the Match and prompting Arsenal to raise his wages.
• Maël agreed to Sheffield United’s salary terms, including the removal of Arsenal’s midseason recall clause, and planned for his family to visit.
• After Sheffield United lost to Scunthorpe, Maël scored a free kick against Portsmouth and later added another goal to make it 3–0.
• Gilbert was sent off after injuring Michael Brown, while Maël and Gilbert watched the rest of Sheffield United’s win together.
• Joelson gave Maël and Gilbert their updated Value Plaques, showing Maël valued at 8 million euros and Gilbert at 3.5 million euros.
• Jorge Mendes noticed Maël’s rising value and instructed his staff to contact him and keep monitoring his progress.

Maël became one of the Championship’s leading scorers and creators while Sheffield United climbed into the promotion race, attracting interest from major clubs and signing with Jorge Mendes. As Maël chose to stay at Sheffield United for the season, his family arrived for Christmas and watched him help give the team an early lead against Hull City.

• Maël scored a stoppage-time winner against Nottingham Forest, reached five goals and five assists, and later won September’s club and Championship Player of the Month awards.
• Maël helped Sheffield United into the promotion play-off zone, developed his shooting, and negotiated with Arsenal over a new contract while considering Mendes Agency’s offer.
• After Doncaster went two goals ahead, Maël scored twice to equalize and then completed his first career hat-trick with a long-range winner, prompting Wenger to postpone recalling him until winter.
• Maël continued scoring and assisting, reached ten goals and ten assists, and developed his speed and curled shot as Chelsea and Manchester United showed interest.
• Maël signed with Jorge Mendes, who advised him on his contract and career options, while Maël helped Sheffield United beat Barnsley and scored directly from a free kick after Trippier was sent off.
• After Sheffield United lost to Norwich, Maël promised Gareth Speed he would keep fighting, then hired Harry and Harry’s sister to support his recovery and nutrition.
• Maël assured his teammates he would stay at Sheffield United, reunited with his visiting family, and arranged for them to watch the Boxing Day match from McCabe’s private box.
• McCabe discussed promotion and bonus payments with Maël’s family, then Maël crossed for Gilbert to head Sheffield United into the lead against Hull City as his family cheered from the box.

Maël became the Championship’s record-breaking star while leading Sheffield United into a fierce promotion and title race. After the team passed 100 points, Sheffield United prepared to face Queens Park Rangers in the final round.

• Simpson scored twice to put Hull City ahead, but Evans and Maël struck back as Sheffield United won 4–2, with Maël earning the match ball and the Championship Mid-Season Best award.
• Mendes negotiated Maël a new Arsenal contract, but Wenger decided not to recall him in January, and Maël returned to Sheffield United to pursue promotion.
• Maël signed his Arsenal deal and a bonus contract with Sheffield United, improved his skills, and helped the team beat Norwich and Leicester City as his goals and assists drew growing attention.
• Maël topped the scoring and assists charts, scored successive hat-tricks against Millwall and other opponents, and attracted transfer interest from Chelsea and Manchester United while negotiating endorsement deals.
• Maël invested $2.7 million for a 10% share of Instagram, then kept scoring as Sheffield United surged up the table, including a record-breaking 31st Championship goal against Middlesbrough.
• Sheffield United lost to Watford but recovered with wins over Reading and Cardiff City, while Maël scored twice from free kicks and helped move the club into second place.
• Sheffield United beat Barnsley and came back to defeat Swansea, while Arsenal’s season unraveled and Wenger told Fabregas and Nasri that Maël would take on greater tactical importance.
• Maël continued developing his left-footed shooting, scored as Sheffield United drew with Preston, and helped the team pass 100 points before their decisive final-round match against Queens Park Rangers.