The real reason Ivan Toney joined Al Ahli instead of Chelsea, Arsenal or Man Utd

Ivan Toney completed a lucrative move to Saudi club Al Ahli on transfer deadline day – but the switch was down to more than purely economic reasons.

Toney, who featured for England at Euro 2024, was spotted in London on deadline day undergoing a medical with Saudi Pro League side Al Ahli.

Brentford had earlier accepted a bid in the region of £40m for Toney, who also attracted interest from Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United this summer.

Toney’s move to Saudi was all confirmed in the early hours of Saturday morning, with the 28-year-old set to join the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Neymar in the country.

He had not played for Brentford this season due to ongoing transfer interest and the Bees were resigned to cashing in as he entered the final 12 months of his contract.

Fans will no doubt accuse Toney of selling out by joining the well-paid but objectively inferior Saudi Pro League in a move that puts his future England prospects in jeopardy.

But there were other factors at play, with Sky Sports reporting that there were ‘no serious attempts’ from other clubs on deadline day to hijack Al Ahli’s move.

Chelsea were most heavily linked with a move for the striker but were prioritising, ultimately unsuccessfully, a deal for Victor Osimhen in the final few hours before the transfer deadline.

Arsenal were also thought to be interested in a move for Toney but were not willing to match the finances of the deal and decided to stick with Mikel Arteta’s current options up front.

Manchester United, meanwhile, were said to be in talks with Toney’s representatives earlier this week but always looked unlikely to sign another striker after adding Joshua Zirkee to their ranks earlier in the window.

The Red Devils spent more than £70m to sign Denmark international Rasmus Hojlund last summer so would have only moved for Toney if the numbers lowered considerably.

Toney is believed to have put pen to paper on a staggering £350,000-a-week contract at Al Ahli.

Following Toney’s move away from Brentford, Bees boos Thomas Frank said: ‘It’s been a pleasure to work with Ivan over the last four years.

‘He has averaged more than one goal every two games, which is an unbelievable number.

‘On the pitch, he has been a fantastic goalscorer, link-up player and leader. He has pushed the team, the squad and himself.

‘It’s a wonderful journey that we have been on together. Ivan helped the club and the team, and the club and the team have helped Ivan.

‘I’m happy he has an opportunity to try something new in his life and career. We thank him for so many magic moments and wish him all the best for his next chapter.

‘Ivan leaves as a Brentford legend.’

Discussing Toney’s future on deadline day, ex-England and Arsenal star Paul Merson said the player will have mixed feelings about his move to Saudi and would have been ideal for big-spending Chelsea.

‘I know he’s going to earn an unbelievable amount of money, but he’s worked so hard to get to where he’s got to and be one of the top forwards in the Premier League,’ Merson told Sky Sports.

‘Part of him will feel great, he’ll never have to work again in his life, but another part will be thinking why a Premier League club didn’t come in for him. He’s one of the best.

‘You’re buying someone who is proven. He was scoring goals in a lesser team. He wouldn’t have needed any time to bed in.

‘He’s better at what Chelsea have got right now. But they’re buying youngsters and that’s probably why it hasn’t happened. But you need some experience and he would’ve been a good signing for them.’

Toney scored 72 goals in 141 appearances for Brentford in three seasons in the Premier League and one in the Championship.

He impressed, albeit briefly, during this summer’s European Championships, helping England reach the final before their narrow defeat to Spain.

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