Ivan Toney is set to continue his career away from the Premier League as Al-Ahli finally agree terms with Brentford for the player.
The 28-year-old has been on the radar of the Saudi outfit, including top Premier League clubs. He was linked with an exit from the club since last summer before his betting scandal.
Arsenal, Manchester United and other Premier League clubs were interested in the forward before an eight-month ban by the Independent Commission twisted the transfer fortunes of the player.
After serving his ban and returning to action, he was strongly linked with a move to Saudi Arabia with Al-Ahli leading the race for the player.
Toney was dropped from Thomas Frank’s Brentford squad for the two opening 2024-25 Premier League matches due to uncertainties surrounding his future.
Now, his future has been resolved with Sky Sports confirming that Brentford have accepted a £40m bid from Al-Ahli for the player.
He will be expected to travel to Saudi Arabia for his medical before signing a contract as new Al-Ahli player.
According to reports, Al-Ahli have reportedly offered him a three-year contract till 2027, including an extension option.
Ivan Toney Brentford and England career
Toney joined Brentford from Peterborough in 2020 and has made 128 league appearances for the club, scoring 67 goals. After a spell with Brentford in England Championship, Toney debuted in the Premier League for the Bees in the 2021-22 season, scoring 12 goals with 5 assists in 33 appearances.
He reached his best career tally in a single campaign in 2022-23 when he scored 20 goals with 4 assists. Before his ban last season, he made 17 league appearances for the Bees, scoring 4 goals with 2 assists.
The England forward will be hoping to continue on top-level performance as he takes up a new challenge in the Saudi Pro League with Al-Ahli. Meanwhile, Toney had originally hoped to continue his career in the Premier League to secure his place in England senior national team.
The former Peterborough forward made his England debut in 2023, playing in the Three Lions Euro 2024 qualifiers and later suffered a slight setback following his betting scandal.
However, he was back to the squad following his return to footballing action and made Gareth Southgates’ England’s squad for the 2024 Euros. He made three substitute appearances in the competition, increasing his tally to four.
It is believed the betting scandal influenced his chances of bagging an offer from one of the top Premier League clubs. Arsenal, Manchester United, including Manchester City dropped their interests in the player following the indictment.
With the imminent move to Saudi Arabia, there are projections his chances and gains in the England national team is likely to be eroded.
Al-Ahli’s double swoop for two of Europe’s best forwards
Ivan Toney could be the second high-profile player who will join Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro League this summer. We reported earlier that the Saudi club have reached an agreement with Napoli for Nigeria international Victor Osimhen.
Napoli accepted a €75m/€80m offer for the player. A four-year contract has been offered with a release clause below €100m. However, Fabrizio Romano has confirmed Osimhen has yet to give the green light for the move, with Chelsea also trying to sign him.
Al-Ahli hit with Osimhen setback
While the Saudi club are hoping to seal a deal for Victor Osimhen in addition to Toney, they have been reportedly dealt a blow due to Saudi’s rules and quota for football clubs in the country.
According to a report shared by Fabrizio Romano, Saudi sources have confirmed the club cannot sign Toney and Osimhen at the same time due to foreign players’ quota and their limited budget.
