Christiano Ronaldo has become the most transformative player in the history of the Saudi Pro League. Not only has he impressed with his performances at Al Nassr, but his arrival has also opened the door for several star players to join other clubs in the league. With this in mind, Ivan Toney spoke about the importance the Portuguese star had in his decision to join Al Ahliwhere he is now the central figure of the club project.
In a recent interview with The Mirror, Ivan Toney elaborated on his arrival in the Saudi Pro League in 2024, highlighting the influence of Cristiano Ronaldo: “I didn’t know much about the Pro League, but then Ronaldo moved here in 2023 and a few others followed. When the option arose to move, I delved deeper into it to see what it was about. And at that moment it looked good.”
Far from being a star on the level of Cristiano Ronaldo, Ivan Toney joined Al Ahli as a striker in top form from Brentford in the Premier League. Anyway, the Englishman has proven to be truly decisive, scoring 56 goals and providing 14 assists in 72 games. Furthermore, he has already won the Saudi Super Cup title and is playing a key role within the team’s collective structure by beating Al Nassr in the final.
With a contract running until 2028 with Al Ahli, Toney is expected to remain in the Saudi Pro-League for a few more years. Still, The Englishman’s impressive form has reportedly caught the attention of Juventus FC. According to reports from Ekrem Konur, they even started talks for him in January 2026. In a surprising turn of events, the 29-year-old striker has reportedly rejected the moveexpressing his desire to continue to excel as the main star.
Al Ahli’s Ivan Toney celebrates after scoring a goal.
Toney makes a comparison between the Saudi Pro League and the Premier League
Following his decision to leave Brentford, Ivan Toon was heavily criticized by fans for choosing to go to the Saudi Pro Leaguean emerging competition. Not only did he receive an offer from Al Ahli, but also from major clubs within the European elite. Anyway, the 29-year-old star has consistently championed the league’s competitive level and even went so far making a surprising comparison with the Premier League which caught many fans off guard.
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“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: There are players in this competition who could still play in the Premier League. The level is high… If Al-Ahli played in the Premier League we would finish quite high. That’s my personal opinion. People can kill it, no problem. But I know my teammates and I know their qualities. You have to work on it every week, because if you don’t, you will be pushed around. You have to have the right mentality’ Toney said via The Mirror.
Ivan Toney’s comments may have surprised many, but they reflect a reality that is difficult to ignore. Unlike many European clubs teams in the Saudi Pro League have the financial strength to attract multiple world-class players stars like Sergej Milinković-Savić, Fabinho, Riyad Mahrez, Franck Kessié, N’Golo Kanté, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kingsley Coman, Sadio Mané, and many others have the talent to shine easily in Europe.
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