England striker Ivan Toney has pleaded not guilty to a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm following an alleged incident at a nightclub in central London.
The Al Ahli forward appeared before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, where he formally denied the charge arising from an incident at a Soho nightclub on December 6, 2025.
Toney, 30, is accused of headbutting and punching Saber Da Silva during an alleged confrontation at the 100 Wardour Street venue. The allegations were presented to the court by prosecutor Tom Heslop, who said the two men had exchanged words before allegedly “squaring up” to each other.
According to the prosecution, Toney allegedly lunged forward and headbutted Da Silva before throwing several punches. The alleged incident reportedly resulted in injuries to Da Silva’s nose and fingers.
Toney did not accept the allegations and entered a plea of not guilty when he appeared before District Judge Briony Clarke.
The court was told that the case could potentially be dealt with at the magistrates’ court. However, Toney elected to have the matter heard at a Crown Court before a judge and jury.
Following the brief hearing, Toney was released on unconditional bail. He is expected to appear at Southwark Crown Court on October 29, when the case will continue.
The judge warned that failure to attend the scheduled hearing could result in further legal action, including the possibility of an arrest warrant.
Toney’s spokesperson said the England international was shocked by the charge but welcomed the opportunity to defend himself in court.
The case follows an investigation by the Metropolitan Police, with the charge formally brought against the footballer in July.
The allegations have not been proven in court, and Toney remains entitled to the presumption of innocence unless and until proven guilty.
The legal development comes as Toney continues his football career in Saudi Arabia with Al Ahli, having moved to the club from Brentford in 2024.
The striker had established himself as one of Brentford’s most important players during his four-year spell with the club, scoring 72 goals before making the move to the Saudi Pro League.
His performances in England also earned him international recognition. Toney has won 10 caps for the Three Lions and scored once for his country.
He was included in England’s squad for the 2026 World Cup and featured during the tournament. However, he was left out of the latest England squad for the ongoing Nations League fixtures.
Toney’s career has previously attracted significant attention away from the pitch. Before his move to Saudi Arabia, he spent several seasons in the English game after beginning his professional career with Northampton Town.
He later played for Newcastle United, Barnsley, Shrewsbury Town, Scunthorpe United, Wigan Athletic and Peterborough United before joining Brentford in 2020.
At Brentford, Toney played a key role in the club’s rise to the Premier League and subsequently established himself as one of the division’s recognised strikers.
His move to Al Ahli in 2024 brought an end to his extended spell in English football, with the Saudi club reportedly paying around £40 million for his services.
The current legal proceedings now represent a separate challenge for the striker, although the court has yet to determine the outcome of the case.
For now, Toney remains free on unconditional bail and is expected back before the court later this month.
His next appearance on October 29 will be an important stage in proceedings as the case moves from Westminster Magistrates’ Court to Southwark Crown Court, where Toney has chosen to have the allegations against him examined before a judge and jury.
Until then, the allegations remain allegations, with the court yet to reach a verdict on the charge against the England international.
