England’s breakout all-rounder Rehan Ahmed has ignited cricket’s transfer market by becoming Birmingham Phoenix’s first direct signing for The Hundred 2026, but the real intrigue lies in his undisclosed salary from the tournament’s ballooning £2.05m team pots. As the ECB’s new auction system deducts a whopping £350k cap hit for just one elite direct pick like Ahmed, whispers suggest his one-year deal could rival top earners like Harry Brook’s reported £470k payday, positioning the 21-year-old leg-spin sensation among The Hundred’s new money elite. This isn’t pocket change—it’s a strategic power play in Phoenix’s privately funded rebuild under Knighthead Capital.
Phoenix performance director James Thomas and head coach Shane Bond didn’t hesitate, snapping up Ahmed after his explosive 2025 Trent Rockets stint (12 wickets, 180+ runs) and a Leicestershire red-ball masterclass (23 wickets at 19 avg, batting 50+ with five tons). With The Hundred’s salaries surging 45% amid the shift to player auctions in March 2026, Ahmed’s move signals franchises are willing to burn big early for proven England internationals who deliver in T20 fireworks. Fans are already speculating: does this £350k-equivalent anchor mean Phoenix has £1.7m left to chase global stars, or is Ahmed’s true take-home even higher in this wild new salary frontier?
The timing adds fuel—fresh off a Big Bash return with Hobart Hurricanes and ECB central contract security, Ahmed chose Edgbaston’s “ambitious vision” over staying put, hinting at a package that factors in endorsements, bonuses, and long-term loyalty. As The Hundred evolves from ECB experiment to commercial juggernaut, Ahmed’s payday could be the first domino in a 2026 salary explosion, drawing IPL eyes and redefining young English talent’s earning power. Will he be the blueprint for the next Brook or Stokes windfall?
