Ex-Brentford star Ivan Toney says Saudi Pro League on par with Premier League, claims Al-Ahli would be a top 4 club

After a prolific debut season in Saudi Arabia, Ivan Toney has thrown his full weight behind the Saudi Pro League, claiming it's now operating at the same level as the Premier League. In a candid interview with The Guardian, the former Brentford striker reflected on his move, his success on the pitch, and his ambitions for England, all while advocating for the rapidly evolving football scene in the Middle East.

From Brentford to Jeddah: Toney’s bold leap east

In the summer of 2024, Ivan Toney became one of the highest-profile English players to make the switch to Saudi Arabia, signing a three-year deal with Al-Ahli SFC. The club reportedly paid Brentford €42 million for the transfer, marking a major move in the Saudi Pro League’s ongoing campaign to attract top-tier talent from Europe. Now playing alongside the likes of Riyad Mahrez and Franck Kessié, and until recently, Roberto Firmino, Toney has settled into his new surroundings with impact and intent. Speaking to The Guardian, he didn’t shy away from sharing his belief in the league’s strength:“Cristiano Ronaldo has been all over the world and probably knows more than me, who has only played in the Premier League, the Championship, League One and League Two. But for me, the Saudi League is on a par with the Premier League.” He doubled down on that view with a bold claim about his club’s quality:“If Al-Ahli SFC played in the Premier League, they would do very well and they would be close to the top four.”

Backed by goals and silverware: A breakout season

Toney’s confidence in Saudi football isn’t built on blind optimism, it’s rooted in results. In his debut campaign, the striker netted 30 goals in all competitions, with 23 of those coming in the Saudi Pro League. That tally left him just two behind Cristiano Ronaldo in the race for the Golden Boot, with the Portuguese legend claiming the top scorer title for a second consecutive season. Beyond individual accolades, Toney played a crucial role in a highly successful season for Al-Ahli.

The club lifted the AFC Champions League title, a continental triumph that underscored their ambitions, and followed it up with a victory in the Saudi Super Cup, where they beat Al-Nassr in a dramatic 5–3 penalty shootout after a 2–2 draw in regular time. Toney was among the penalty scorers in that decisive match.“Once I got going, the goals came,” Toney said. “I felt like I could have scored a lot more, but even so, I finished as the second-top scorer in the league in my first season, somewhere that is completely new to me. I feel like it is an achievement.” Heading into the 2025–26 season, Toney’s target is clear:“This season, I am hoping to take first spot, and hopefully that will help the team and win games and get where we need to be.”

Changing perceptions: “People shouldn’t look down on us”

For Toney, part of his mission is about more than goals, it’s about reshaping how Saudi football is viewed in Europe.“This is a quality league and people shouldn't look down on us. We already saw Al-Hilal play against Manchester City and beat them,” he said, referring to Al-Hilal’s famous win at the Club World Cup.

He confessed he nearly joined the online conversation after that result but held back:“I was going to post a tweet, but I would have been slaughtered on social media, so I shut my mouth. But people saw the quality that Al-Hilal has.”Toney reiterated that the standard of football in the league is no joke:“The standards in Saudi Arabia are high. They play good football here. There are players who are not as well known as those in the Premier League, but there are many who could play there.” Echoing Cristiano Ronaldo, who previously said the Saudi Pro League was a stronger competition than France’s Ligue 1, Toney added that interest from Europe continues to grow.“The players are interested in this. I know of some who have been made offers to play here and want to know what it's like. I would recommend it to everyone if it seems like a good option to them.”

England ambitions still alive

Despite moving away from Europe, Toney insists his international ambitions remain intact. He featured for England at Euro 2024 and was called up again by Thomas Tuchel, now at the helm of the national team, for the June internationals. Although he missed out on the latest squad for September, he’s not discouraged.“I have to concentrate and give everything to have the opportunity. Who knows? If they call me up, I will give everything for my country. And if not, I will cheer on the boys.”

What’s next for Toney and Al-Ahli

The new Saudi Pro League season kicked off on August 28, 2025, and all teams have now played each other once. Al-Ahli began their campaign with a narrow 1–0 win over Neom SC, with Ivan Toney scoring the decisive goal. Al-Ahli currently sit eighth in the league table out of 18 teams With Roberto Firmino having left the club this summer, the attacking responsibilities now rest more heavily on Toney and Riyad Mahrez to drive Al-Ahli’s domestic title challenge and maintain their momentum in continental competitions. Next up, Al-Ahli face Al-Ettifaq this Friday, 12 September, in a fixture that could be pivotal as the club looks to climb the table and stake its claim early in the season. For Toney, every match is another opportunity to lead by example, and to prove that playing in Saudi Arabia doesn’t mean stepping off the global football stage. Quite the opposite.