England forward Ivan Toney appeared in court to face accusations of punching and headbutting a man at a London nightclub last year.
Court Appearance and Plea
The 30-year-old athlete, who played for England at the FIFA World Cup 2026 and currently competes for Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro League, entered a formal plea of not guilty during a five-minute hearing at Southwark Crown Court in London, as reported by the Press Association news agency. He faced a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm stemming from an altercation at a nightlife venue located on Wardour Street on December 6 of last year.
Judge Christopher Hehir scheduled a provisional trial date at the same court for June 12 next year, offering an apology to Toney regarding the timeline.
“That’s a long way in advance and I’m sorry about that,” the judge stated, adding that crown courts face significant pressure due to a massive backlog of work.
Following the hearing, Toney was released on unconditional bail, according to the Press Association.
Career Background
Toney began his professional football journey with Northampton Town before spending time with Newcastle United and Peterborough. He later moved to Brentford in 2020, where his performances in the Premier League earned him selection for the England national team. He subsequently transferred to Al-Ahli in 2024.
