Al-Ahli’s Crucial Crossroads: Can English whispers derail the Saudi dream?
6 October 2025
As Al-Ahli Jeddah’s ambitious project continues in the background, a sudden storm lands from an unexpected quarter: English striker Ivan Toni is being linked with a possible exit. Coach Matthias Jaissle had built his attacking blueprint around Toni since last season, but the forward’s future is now clouded by talks of a return to England and a raft of offers from Europe. Between the player’s ambitions and the club’s need for stability, Al-Ahli faces a crucial question: how should it handle Toni before the situation spirals into a potential endgame?
English Interest
Interest from England began to sharpen last season, with Manchester United signaling a desire to recruit Toni before pivoting to other targets. Reports later suggested Chelsea also explored the possibility, though negotiations remained informal. The strongest push, however, has come from Tottenham Hotspur, which has pursued Toni either on a permanent deal or on loan after a conversation between Toni and Spurs’ manager Thomas Frank. The forward has demonstrated openness to a Spurs spell, especially after achieving success in Asia’s elite competition and lifting the domestic super cup.
A Toni departure would thus not just be a player moving clubs; it would signal a strategic shift for Al-Ahli, forcing the club to rethink its attacking dynamic and contingency plans against a backdrop of intense English interest.
The Tactical Loss
Losing Toni would be far from a routine transfer slap. He has been a keystone of Al-Ahli’s attacking setup, linking midfield to attack, finishing chances with efficiency, and creating space for teammates. If the forward leaves, the coaching staff would need to redraw the offensive blueprint, a task that could unsettles the team during a sensitive phase of the season.
The potential exit would compel the technicians to recalibrate the frontline, possibly altering how space is exploited and how opponents are pressed. In short, Toni isn’t just a goal scorer; he’s a catalyst for the team’s tactical flexibility—and his absence would ripple through the entire attack.
Management’s Move
Saudi press (the “Al-Yom” outlet cited) has suggested that Al-Ahli’s leadership is moving to replace Toni either in January or by season’s end, while actively evaluating European options to gauge the reality of his departure. The club reportedly wants options ready, should the need arise to preserve competitiveness and honor existing ambitions.
Toni, 28, joined Al-Ahli in 2024 from Brentford, with a contract through 2028. This season he has appeared in 10 games across all competitions, scoring 8 goals and lending 1 assist. In total for Al-Ahli, he has made 54 appearances, with 38 goals and 7 assists.
Beyond the numbers, a potential departure would threaten Al-Ahli’s mission to defend their domestic crown and push for continental success. Fans are divided: some call for fresh starts and even a Saudi option like striker Firas Al-Breikan to inject new life into the frontline, while others recognize Toni’s value and the difficulty of finding an equally versatile replacement.
Internally, the management remains cautious, recognizing Toni’s market value while weighing whether his continued presence serves the club’s broader strategic aims. For now, the plan is to keep one eye on negotiations and the other on a robust contingency slate to preserve competitive momentum.
And if the stars align, perhaps this sour rumor could become a crunchy turning point—one of those moments when a club redefines itself not in spite of a star departure, but because of the smart choices made in the wake of one.
Punchline 1: If transfer rumors paid salaries, every club would hire a rumor mill as a full-time player, and the bank would need its own goalie. Punchline 2: Al-Ahli might install a stone statue of Toni at the training ground—not to inspire, but to remind every defender exactly where the danger used to come from.
