Tax Rules Stall Tony's Return: The Saudi-Side Saga of a Premier League Dream
11 December 2025
English press outlets are spotlighting Ivan Tony's stance on leaving Al-Ahli Jeddah in January, as clubs from the Premier League circle for a potential return.
Despite Tony's productive spell in Saudi Arabia, links to a move back to England persist, with Tottenham Hotspur among the clubs reportedly tracking a forward who wants to catch the eye of the game’s top coaches—specifically the German tactician Thomas Tuchel, who’s cited in the chatter as an influence.
TalkSport, a British outlet, even suggested there is a hurdle preventing a January return for Tony, complicating the timing of any transfer decision.
Under Tony’s current deal, he earns around 400,000 pounds per week on a four-year contract with Al-Ahli. To secure foreign residency tax relief in Saudi Arabia, he would need to stay in the kingdom at least until April 2026; departing earlier could trigger a substantial tax deduction from his earnings.
In practical terms, that early exit could cut his potential earnings from about 28 million pounds to roughly 14 million pounds, a stark contrast that explains why the move appears stalled by financial rules rather than football decisions alone.
Pioli’s Dilemma
The Tony situation mirrors a parallel tale involving Stefano Pioli, the Italian coach who previously led Al-Nassr. Pioli did not publicly terminate his contract when the season ended; instead, he remained in Saudi Arabia to secure his dues while awaiting the legal window to potentially fulfill tax-exemption conditions.
Although Pioli had agreed to take charge of Fiorentina, an official announcement was withheld as both sides awaited the fulfillment of regulatory provisions that would allow a clean exit and avoid heavy tax penalties.
Bottom line: in Saudi football, tax rules can govern the pace and shape of the transfer market as much as scouts, managers, and fans do. Decision-makers weigh money and legality as heavily as form and fixtures.
Punchline 1: When tax rules start pulling the strings, even a confident winger like Tony can get stung by a sniper—the one with a calculator, not a rifle.
Punchline 2: Four years or four tax quarters? In football, the only thing longer than a contract is the taxman's reach—he's always aiming for the headlines.
