According to The Pitch Prospect, Ivan Toney is unlikely to leave Al Ahli in January to return to the Premier League for tax reasons.
The former Brentford The striker has been linked with a move back to England’s top flight in order to make England’s World Cup squad.
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Toney moved to the Saudi Pro League from Brentford in 2024 for a fee of £40 million and has been productive ever since.
The 29-year-old has scored 42 goals in 62 games in all competitions and helped his side win this year’s AFC Champions League.
This season he continued his good goalscoring form, scoring twelve goals in a total of 18 games.
Could Ivan Toney return to the Premier League?
With the World Cup just six months away, a move back to the Premier League could be a tempting prospect for Toney as he eyes a return to England under Thomas Tuchel.
Since moving to Saudi Arabia, the striker has only been called up to the Three Lions squad once, with Tuchel calling him up in May 2025.
Having been overlooked for selection in recent months, this could continue to be the case next summer if Toney does not return to English football.
And although Toney has been linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham in January, The Pitch Prospect correspondent Ben Jacobs has revealed that this is unlikely.
Speaking on The Pitch Prospect Breakfast, Jacobs said: “I’m downplaying the idea of Saudi Arabia leaving in January.
“We know that Tottenham, given the link with Thomas Frank, and West Ham United are two clubs who will certainly continue to be interested in Ivan Toney if he becomes truly available.”
“But Al Ahli doesn’t want to let him go, Toney continues to say he has settled in.” Saudi Arabia.”
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Toney’s £14m dilemma
Not only is Toney hesitant to leave Al Ahli, but he would also face a huge tax bill if he were to return to England.
Following his £40m transfer last year, he penned a four-year contract worth £400,000 tax-free.
However, to be considered a non-UK resident taxpayer, the former Bees star must remain in Saudi Arabia until at least April 2026.
Having now earned an estimated £28m since joining Al Ahli, Toney would have to pay 50 per cent of that should he return before next year, meaning he would sacrifice £14m of his total income.
Jacobs further explained how this could impact Toney’s future decision-making: “If he returns to England specifically, he will also have a huge tax burden.”
“I think Ivan Toney’s departure in January is unlikely, but let’s see what happens in the summer, because at that point the tax implications are a little more favorable.”
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“Because the way it works, you basically have to stay for two tax years. So once Ivan Toney arrives in April and the new tax year, he’ll be in a much more favorable position if he wants to think about a move back to the Premier League.”
The latest news about Toney comes just days after it was revealed that he was arrested on Saturday morning for allegedly head-butting a person in a London bar.
Footage obtained from The Sun appears to feature the 29-year-old Toney be brought out 100 Wardour St. in Soho by policewho was involved in an altercation after a fan allegedly snapped him for a selfie.
Should he be available next summer, Toney would be an attractive candidate for a number of English teams.
He impressed in his previous top-flight game at Brentford, scoring 36 goals in 83 Premier League games.
As all of these goals were scored under current Tottenham manager Frank, this sparked speculation that Toney could move to north London should he return to England.