In a dramatic last-minute move during the summer transfer window, Al-Ahli completed the signing of England international Ivan Toney, choosing him over Napoli's Victor Osimhen. The Brentford striker has opted to leave European football during the peak of his career, and reports suggest that the £40 million transfer fee was enough to convince the Premier League side. However, what really sealed the deal for Toney was the lucrative salary offered by the Saudi Pro League.

According to The Mirror, Toney's new contract with Al-Ahli will see him earning a staggering £400,000 per week—after tax.

Toney had drawn significant interest from Premier League clubs over the summer, but the financial terms offered by the Saudi club far exceeded what any English side could provide. To put it in perspective, a £400,000 tax-free weekly wage in Saudi Arabia is equivalent to earning £800,000 per week before taxes in the Premier League—an amount that no club was willing to offer. For context, even as one of Brentford’s most valuable players and a full England international, Toney was earning a modest £36,000 per week in England.

Currently, the highest-paid players in the Premier League, Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne, each earn £400,000 per week. Toney’s new salary in Saudi Arabia surpasses theirs and represents a 22-fold increase from his earnings at Brentford. Given such an astronomical offer, it’s no surprise that Toney accepted the deal. In fact, any player would seriously consider such a move under these conditions.

Despite being in the prime of his career and showcasing his physical prowess and scoring efficiency, Toney's chances of joining a European powerhouse as a starting striker seemed slim. At most, he would likely have been a backup forward at clubs like Manchester United or Arsenal, which clearly wasn’t his goal.

Throughout the summer, there were rumors linking Toney to top Premier League clubs, including Arsenal, Manchester United, and Chelsea. However, none of these clubs made a firm offer that matched Toney’s ambitions. Manchester United were looking for a backup striker to support Rasmus Højlund, rather than someone to replace him. Arsenal were interested in adding depth to their tactical options, but had no intention of making Toney a central figure in their attack. Meanwhile, Chelsea’s interest in the 28-year-old remained lukewarm, as they were not keen on signing a player of his age for a long-term role.

In this context, Toney’s decision to join the Saudi Pro League makes perfect sense. While the league lacks the competitiveness of the Premier League and returning to England after a stint in Saudi Arabia might prove difficult, the financial security of a four-year contract—far exceeding his earnings in Europe—was too good to turn down. Although he may have once dreamed of joining a European giant, the gap between those offers and what Saudi Arabia presented was simply too vast for him to pass up.