England striker Ivan Toney, currently with Saudi side Al-Ittihad, is risking it all for a 2026 World Cup berth – reports suggest he plans to return to the Premier League on loan in January to maintain his form and boost his chances of being selected for the England national team. While Toney speaks highly of his experience in the Saudi Pro League, his "World Cup dream" remains his top priority, and a key question looms: will Thomas Tuchel explicitly tell him his place in the national team pecking order will drop due to his Saudi league status?
A more practical concern is the Saudi fixture list: the Ramadan break (from February to mid-March next year), combined with subsequent holiday breaks, would be highly detrimental to Toney, who needs consistent game time to stay sharp. Thus, "a six-month loan back to the Premier League in January, then returning to Saudi Arabia at the end of the season" is seen as his optimal solution to balance his club contract and World Cup aspirations.
However, obstacles abound: Al-Ittihad has clearly labeled Toney a "non-sale item," and the club’s new sporting director is unwilling to let go of their star striker. In the Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur is monitoring Toney due to manager Thomas Frank’s connections, but no concrete moves have been made yet; Manchester United has also been mentioned, but the Red Devils are more focused on pursuing Benjamin Šeško and Matheus Cunha. They would only consider Toney if Josip Živkož leaves, and all current rumors about Toney’s return to the Premier League remain at a preliminary stage.
Even if suitors emerge, Toney will need to actively push for the transfer – after all, his current club has no intention of releasing him. Additionally, the loan faces tax hurdles: if Toney stays in the UK beyond the legal number of days, additional tax liabilities will arise. However, this issue could be resolved by referencing Jordan Henderson’s loan move to Ajax, using a "deferred salary payment" model where he receives the unpaid wages after returning to Saudi Arabia.
