Ivan Toney has revealed the motivating elements that noticed him depart west London to affix Saudi Professional League facet Al-Ahli this summer time.
The 28-year-old missed lots of the 2023/24 season resulting from his eight-month ban for breaching playing pointers, however the marketing campaign earlier than notched a formidable 20 Premier League objectives for Brentford.
A transfer to one of many league’s prime groups was lengthy mooted, leaving some shocked at his Saudi change, with others who’ve made an analogous switch usually doing so at a later level of their profession.
Ivan Toney reveals attraction to the Saudi Professional League and avoidance of switch home windows
“Arsenal? Manchester United? I by no means get entangled in switch home windows, as a result of the time I did, it broke down and I used to be devastated,” Toney tells FourFourTwo in an unique interview. “I let my folks take cost of issues now. If one thing is supposed to be, it can fall into place, however I’m not one to power a transfer.”
The ill-fated transfer in query concerned a teenage Toney heading to Wolverhampton Wanderers, waving goodbye to his life with Northampton City, earlier than seeing the transfer break down and forcing a tough resettlement interval.
The avoidance of switch discuss leads Toney to insist he doesn’t even know which groups made a definitive transfer for him in the summertime, however he favored what he noticed when he heard of Al-Ahli’s curiosity.
“I got here right here and the coaching floor was good, the stadium was good and the standard within the staff was good additionally,” he continued. “Folks have a look at this league in another way, however I stepped into it realizing it’s nonetheless a excessive customary.
“I wished one thing a bit totally different. It’s a unique tradition, however I can mix in anyplace. I’ve been at Peterborough, Brentford, now out of the UK. I’m excited to be on this journey. I imagine it’s the best transfer at this stage of my profession.”
Removed from the repute as a semi-retirement vacation spot for footballers, Toney views his Saudi step as the following evolution in his profession, with loads of seasons nonetheless forward of him.
Talking of his adjusting to his new dwelling, Toney stated: “I’d slightly it like this [hot] than wet and windy. On the pitch, it’s been totally different — a little bit powerful — however I’ll adapt and hopefully begin scoring objectives and profitable video games.
“I’m 28 now, so I nonetheless need to obtain issues for the following six, seven or eight years.”
