Former Brentford striker Ivan Toney is set to stay in Saudi Arabia despite speculations linking him with a move to Tottenham Hotspur.
Ivan Toney, 29, left the Premier League in 2024 to join the Jeddah club for around £40 million ($53m), and there have been reports he’s considering making a switch back to England.
With the 2026 World Cup creeping into view, Toney is reportedly seeking a move to the Premier League to convince England manager Thomas Tuchel he still has what it takes to represent his country.
Spurs, West Ham, and Manchester United have all held early discussions about the possibility of bringing him back to England. However, every indication from Saudi Arabia suggests he is going nowhere, as revealed by talkSPORT.
Ivan Toney reacts during the Saudi Pro League match between Al Ahli and Al Qadsiah. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)
Al-Ahli’s new sporting director, Rui Pedro Braz, has absolutely no intention of sanctioning a sale or loan in January.
The club, backed by significant state investment, would only consider parting with Toney if an elite-level replacement were secured, something they regard as extremely unlikely mid-season.
talkSPORT reports that Toney’s camp has communicated to interested Premier League clubs that the striker is settled, well-paid and not currently pushing for a move.
Toney’s contract runs until 2028, and his financial terms, worth over £400,000 per week tax-free, create a barrier to any potential return. Moreover, he must remain abroad until at least April 2026 to retain his non-UK tax residency status.
Since moving to the Middle East, Toney has been called up just once and played only in England’s 3-1 loss to Senegal.
Toney has also been prolific in front of goal. His tally of 42 goals in 62 matches, including 12 this season, has made him one of the division’s most prolific imports.
He also fired Al-Ahli to the Asian Champions League title and netted 30 goals across all competitions last campaign.
