Ivan Toney says he never saw his move to the Saudi Pro League as a hindrance to getting called up to the England national team, Afrosport reports.
The 29-year-old moved to Al Ahli from Premier League side Brentford last August and scored 30 goals in 44 appearances in all competitions for the club during the concluded 2024-25 season, winning the AFC Champions League.
He was recalled to the England squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Andorra and a friendly against Senegal.
It is the first time Toney will be involved with the Three Lions since they lost the Euro 2024 final to Spain in Germany last July.
While some believed he would not be able to play for England owing to his move to the Middle East, he thought otherwise.
“You see with me I think if you’re just doing the right thing, playing football, playing well and scoring goals – a striker’s job, that’s what you’re in a team to do – it doesn’t matter where you play in the world, I feel like you should still get the chance,” he said.
“I think it’s been proven me being me being back here and being back amongst the boys. It feels good to see the faces again, and it feels good to get stuck in.”
He added: “I feel like I’m in good form. As you see, I’m here, I’m still scoring goals. So, hopefully I can keep doing that and be in the mix for the World Cup.”
😃 @ivantoney24 pic.twitter.com/vnPmBjmDiv
— England (@England) June 2, 2025
Toney finished as the second-highest goalscorer in the Saudi Pro League last season with 23 goals, two behind Al Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo and ahead of Al-Ittihad’s Karim Benzema (21 goals) and Al-Qadsiah’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (19 goals).
