Former Arsenal target, Ivan Toney, has finally completed his move to Al Ahli, though he may be marginally disappointed that it wasn’t to a bigger Premier League club. Regardless, Brentford will be happy with their profits.
Ivan Toney to Al Ahli: Saudi Move Finally Complete
£40 Million Package
According to Fabrizio Romano, it is now “finally done” and has been given the “Here We Go”. After a contract was agreed and a £40 million deal was agreed between Brentford and Al Ahli, Toney’s medical has now been completed and he will travel to Saudi Arabia to be presented. The Bees previously rejected a £35 million offer, but the new proposal was deemed worthy.
The buyers chose to focus on the Englishman rather than Victor Osimhen from Napoli. In theory, this should’ve allowed Chelsea to swoop in and achieve their number one target, but they failed miserably, falling short in their contract offer. It was nowhere near his Napoli salary.
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With Toney’s contract up next summer, and him unlikely to sign a new one, this deal seems the best for his sellers. £40 million is a lot more than nothing, though it is a lot less than the fees that he could’ve commanded a year ago.
Where Does This Leave Toney?
The former Arsenal target will of course be on very high wages and a poster boy for the Saudi Pro League. However, he is effectively ending his chances of getting into the England squad unless he comes back to Europe. Whilst we did see Jordan Henderson play for Gareth Southgate despite playing in Saudi, the midfielder seems to be a special case.
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Playing in a much less competitive league will almost certainly kill his chances of going to World Cup 2026. He has already not been included in the latest England squad and faces tough competition from Harry Kane, Ollie Watkins, and Dominic Solanke, now at Tottenham Hotspur. It is a shame, given Toney’s exploits at Euro 2024.
