In a significant transfer deadline day move, England striker Ivan Toney has joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli from Brentford on a permanent transfer. While the financial details have not been officially disclosed, British media reports suggest that Al-Ahli paid Brentford a fee of £40 million ($52.50 million) to secure Toney’s services until 2028.
Toney’s departure marks the end of a successful chapter at Brentford, where he played a pivotal role in their promotion to the Premier League in the 2020-21 season. He was a prolific scorer for the Bees, netting 33 league goals during their Championship-winning campaign. However, an eight-month ban for breaching betting rules hampered his progress last season.
Despite the suspension, Toney’s talent remained evident, as he amassed a total of 72 goals in 141 appearances for Brentford. He also earned six caps for England, scoring one goal.
Brentford manager Thomas Frank expressed his gratitude for Toney’s contributions, stating, “It’s been a pleasure to work with Ivan over the last four years. It’s a wonderful journey that we have been on together. Ivan helped the club and the team, and the club and the team have helped Ivan. I’m happy he has an opportunity to try something new in his life and career. We thank him for so many magic moments and wish him all the best for his next chapter. Ivan leaves as a Brentford legend.”
Toney’s move to Al-Ahli adds another high-profile name to the growing list of European players making the switch to the Saudi Pro League. With significant investment in recent years, the league has attracted a number of top talents, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and N’Golo Kanté.
It remains to be seen how Toney will fare in his new surroundings, but his move to Al-Ahli highlights the increasing appeal of the Saudi Pro League as a destination for top footballers.
