Ivan Toney’s last-minute move to Al-Ahli on deadline day will see the 28-year-old striker earn up to £1 million per week when various performance-related bonuses are included.
Toney, who has signed a lucrative four-year deal with Al-Ahli, will receive a basic salary reportedly around £400,000 per week after tax. This substantial wage marks a significant increase from his previous earnings at Brentford.
The contract is structured in such a way that, with the addition of performance-related bonuses, Toney’s weekly earnings could easily rise to approximately £500,000.
To put this into perspective, to match this post-tax take-home pay in the UK, Toney would need to be earning nearly £1 million per week before taxes, underscoring the financial advantages of his move to Saudi Arabia.
This transfer marks a dramatic pay rise for Toney, who was earning less than £50,000 a week during his time at Brentford, where he had been a key player for four seasons since joining from Peterborough United.
The £40 million transfer fee makes Toney one of the highest-paid English footballers currently active, elevating his status within the sport.
Interestingly, Toney’s move to Al-Ahli almost didn’t happen, as the Saudi club was also engaged in negotiations with Napoli for the signing of Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen.
However, a last-minute agreement with Brentford ensured that Toney’s transfer was finalized just in time, securing his future in the Saudi Pro League.
With his contract at Brentford due to expire at the end of the season, Toney faced the risk of remaining at the club if the deal had fallen through, making the successful transfer even more crucial for his career trajectory.
In his new chapter with Al-Ahli, Toney will be joining other high-profile players such as Roberto Firmino and Édouard Mendy, further enhancing the club’s roster with his talents.
Toney’s debut in the Saudi Pro League is highly anticipated and is expected to take place after the international break. His first match will be against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr, adding an extra layer of excitement to his introduction to the league.