Ivan Toney hosted a party for his closest friends (Picture: @urfreshtv_sport)
Ivan Toney has told his closest friends at a leaving party that he will pay for all of their flights to Saudi Arabia after his huge money move to Al-Ahli.
Toney has become one of the highest paid Englishmen in the history of football, according to the Daily Mail, with the striker now earning around £400,000-a-week.
Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli paid Brentford £40m to sign the 28-year-old, despite interest from clubs in the Premier League and Europe, such as Chelsea.
Toney’s new weekly wages are significantly higher than other top English players, including Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham and Arsenal star Bukayo Saka.
It is believed that Toney was earning less than £50,000-a-week at Brentford – and now he’s making £400,000-a-week – he’s told his close friends: ‘Flights are on me!’
Speaking at a private event, Toney said: ‘It’s a simple one, obviously love for coming.
‘You know the love. You all got invited for your own reasons we’ve had some good memories everyone, more memories on our back I’m sure.
Ivan Toney has swapped the Premier League for the Middle East (Picture: Getty)
‘Might be a bit older, but still get down with it, you know, like that. But, yeah, you’re all welcome to come pull up anytime.
‘Flights are on me. Don’t worry I’ve got you. We will enjoy.’
Toney scored 72 times in 141 games for Brentford – and particularly impressed during the 2022-23 Premier League season – when he netted 20 top-flight goals.
He served an eight-month gambling ban for 232 breaches of the Football Association’s betting rules between May 2023 and January 2024.
Toney has been capped six times for England but Paul Merson has warned him that he may now find international opportunities with the Three Lions limited.
‘There was nothing here for him so he had to take that deal,’ Merson said about Toney’s move to the Middle East. ‘He’ll find it hard to get in [the England squad].’