Saudi Pro League’s New Rule Change Could Be the Key to Unlocking Ivan Toney’s Transfer to Al-Ahli
The Saudi Pro League is gearing up for a new season, and the recent rule changes could have a significant impact on the transfer market. One player who might benefit from these changes is Brentford’s Ivan Toney, who has been linked with a move to Al-Ahli.
Toney has been left out of Brentford’s matchday squad for their Premier League opener, sparking rumors of a potential exit. Al-Ahli has reportedly entered talks with the English striker, but any deal remains in its early stages. The Saudi club has been eyeing Toney, who has scored 67 goals in 128 appearances for Brentford.
However, under the previous rules, Al-Ahli would have been unable to sign Toney due to the foreign player cap. But with the new rule change, the Saudi Pro League has increased the number of foreign players permitted per club from eight to ten. This could be a game-changer for Toney’s potential move to Al-Ahli.
The new rules also reduce squad sizes from 30 to 25 players, allowing for nearly 50% of the squad to be made up of foreign players. This could give Al-Ahli the flexibility to sign Toney and other top players.
As things stand, Al-Ahli has eight foreign players in their squad, including former Premier League stars Riyad Mahrez, Roberto Firmino, and Edouard Mendy. With the new rules, the Saudi club could potentially sign Toney and add more depth to their squad.
Brentford boss Thomas Frank has acknowledged the interest in Toney, saying: "A lot of things are going on with Ivan, especially with transfers. Of course, Ivan is a top player, he has been fantastic for us for four years. But we showed last season we can cope without him."
The transfer window is set to close on August 30, and Al-Ahli will need to move quickly to secure Toney’s signature. Will the Saudi club be able to convince Toney to make the move? Only time will tell.
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