IVAN TONEY will be joined by a star-studded cast when he makes his debut in Saudi Arabia.
Toney, 28, completed a £40million transfer to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli from Brentford on deadline day.
The six-cap England international has already been greeted by fans of the Jeddah-based outfit, though he cast an awkward look as they sang a new chant for him.
However, while Toney brings star power in his own right, he will be joining a host of big names who can boast major European silverware.
So much so that, even though Toney is earning a whopping £403,000-a-week at base, he is not even close to being top earner at the club.
That title belongs to a certain Riyad Mahrez, who reportedly nets a stunning £850,000-a-week.
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Mahrez, 33, won five Premier League titles – one with Leicester and four with Manchester City – as well as two FA Cups, three League Cups and the Champions League.
The international stage has also seen Mahrez crowned the African Footballer of the Year for 2016, win the African Cup of Nations with Algeria in 2019 and twice win his nations Player of the Year award.
Mahrez headed to the club last summer, the first of a wave of star signings.
Those included Chelsea Champions League winner Edouard Mendy, 32, and Prem and Champions League winner Roberto Firmino, 32.
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Reports suggest Firmino is earning £326,000-a-week and Mendy is taking home £216,000 per week.
Al-Ahli’s incredible wage bill is also topped up by Barcelona flop Franck Kessie on £230,000 a week.
The 27-year-old played just 43 times for the Spanish giants in an underwhelming spell following a transfer from AC Milan.
Elsewhere in the squad there is highly-rated 22-year-old Gabri Veiga.
The midfielder is a former transfer target of Arsenal, Chelsea and Man City.
He was labelled “embarrassing” by World Cup winner Toni Kroos after completing a transfer to the club for £34m from Celta Vigo last year.
Veiga is estimated to make just shy of £200,000-a-week.
Making up the defence, Al-Ahli have ex-Roma star Roger Ibanez, 25, and former Juventus star Merih Demiral, 26.
Both centre-backs also played at Atalanta, though the latter of them was hit by a Uefa ban for his controversial “Grey Wolf” goal celebration while playing for Turkey at Euro 2024.
It’s at full-back where some Saudi players make the side, with 24-year-old pairing Ali Majrashi and Bassam Al-Hurayji filling in on either side so far this season.
As well as the arrival of Toney, Al-Ahli have also handed former RB Salzburg coach Matthias Jaissle a new defensive midfielder in the form of 20-year-old Alexsander, who joined from Fluminense.
These stars play at the multi-use King Abdullah Sports City stadium, which can hold more than 62,000 spectators.
However, just over 20,000 turned out for their opening home match against Al-Orobah.
That game ended in a 2-0 win, while their first away game ended in a 1-0 defeat at Al-Fateh.
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But Toney could make his debut for the Royals against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr on September 13.
Al-Ahli finished third in the Saudi Pro League last season, but will be hoping the addition of Toney can fire them to the title for the first time since 2016.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
