England striker Ivan Toney pleads not guilty to assault charge in alleged nightclub incident
England striker Ivan Toney has pleaded not guilty to a charge of assault causing actual bodily harm in an alleged incident at a London nightclub in December 2025
Ivan Toney has entered a not guilty plea to charges of assaulting a man during an alleged altercation at a Soho nightclub. The England striker, 30, was charged on July 31 in connection with the alleged assault on December 6, 2025, on Wardour Street, London.
The international forward appeared in court following a one-week postponement of his hearing related to the alleged assault on Saber Da Silva, a nightclub security guard, at an upscale Soho establishment in central London.
Toney, dressed in a black top layered over a shirt and tie, arrived at court shortly after 9:30 a.m. local time on Thursday, accompanied by three members of his entourage.
The former Brentford striker stood in the dock to confirm his name and age, entering a not guilty plea to a charge of assault causing actual bodily harm, as per The Mirror .
Toney was granted unconditional bail until a hearing at Southwark Crown Court on October 29. District Judge Briony Clarke indicated the case could be handled in the magistrates' court, but the England international opted for a Crown Court trial before a judge and jury.
On the evening of the alleged incident, officers responded to the Soho nightclub within 30 minutes and subsequently escorted Toney from the premises. The London Ambulance Service later confirmed three individuals were evaluated at the scene, with one transported to hospital.
When details of the criminal charge initially emerged, Toney declared his intention to fight the allegation. A representative for the Al-Ahli player said in a statement: "Ivan acknowledges the charge and although he is naturally shocked, he looks forward to being given the opportunity to clear his name in court."
Toney featured for England at the FIFA World Cup earlier in the summer and has earned 10 caps for the national side, netting once. However, he was omitted from Thomas Tuchel's roster for the four UEFA Nations League fixtures during the ongoing international window, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin among those selected in his place.
Nevertheless, the Northampton native has enjoyed a strong start to the campaign at Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro League. In fact, he has netted 10 times and registered one assist in merely seven league outings.
Toney now boasts 82 goals and 18 assists across 103 appearances since his transfer to Al-Ahli from Brentford in 2024. The former Newcastle United and Peterborough United striker had cemented his reputation as one of the Premier League's most clinical finishers prior to his Saudi Arabia switch, having found the net 21 times during the 2022/23 season.
He is anticipated to return to action for Al-Ahli when they face Al Fateh on October 9, their first match following the revamped and extended three-week international break.
