Ivan Toney completes dramatic Deadline Day move

30 Aug 2024 23:45 BST
2 min read

Ivan Toney has finalised his expected transfer away from Brentford, but in signing for Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahly, he has moved to a rather unexpected destination.

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Toney has completed a deal worth €47.5 million (£40m) and has signed a three-year contract with the Saudi outfit that is estimated to be worth €60m (£50m).

Having battled through the lower leagues to reach the heights of international football, it is a move that is destined to split fans but will set the 28-year-old up for life.

In recent months, meanwhile, there has been ample interest in Toney. Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United were all looking at the forward during the January transfer window, when Brentford put an astonishing price tag of more than €100m on his head.

The Premier League giants continued to have a tentative interest in the summer, yet they were not tempted into a move and Toney will instead make a lucrative switch to Saudi Arabia.

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Toney signs Al-Ahli deal

Sky Sports News broke the news that Toney had signed his contract with Ah-Ahli, and this has subsequently been ratified by football transfer news expert Ben Jacobs, who confirmed via X that the deal is done.

Toney has an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €14.8m, which may seem low but reflects a player who has endured a challenging year, during which he spent several months banned because of gambling offences.

He made an express start on his return with Brentford, scoring in four of his first five games back, yet after netting against Liverpool on February 17, he has not since scored a competitive, despite receiving an England call up for Euro 2024.

Toney’s transfer comes as little shock given that he only had a year left on his existing contract with the Bees, who he had not appeared for this season.

Read more about: Premier League, Professional League, Al Ahli, Brentford, Chelsea, Ivan Toney