Toney pleads not guilty to assaulting security guard in London nightclub

Ivan Toney has pleaded not guilty to assaulting a man during an alleged brawl at a Soho nightclub. England striker Toney, 30, was charged on July 31 relating to the alleged assault on 6 December 2025 on Wardour Street, London.

The England international appeared in court after a one-week delay to his hearing following the alleged assault on Saber Da Silva, a nightclub security guard, at a swanky Soho nightclub in central London.

Toney, who was wearing a black top over a shirt and tie, was accompanied by three members of his entourage as he arrived at court shortly after 9.30am on Thursday.

The ex-Brentford forward stood in the dock at the court to confirm his name and age, and pleaded his case that he is innocent of a charge of assault causing actual bodily harm.

Toney was released on unconditional bail until a hearing at Southwark Crown Court on 29 October. District Judge Briony Clarke said the case could be tried in the magistrates' court, but the England footballer elected for a Crown Court trial before a judge and jury.

On the night of the alleged incident, officers arrived at the Soho nightclub within 30 minutes and soon escorted Toney out of the venue. The London Ambulance Service then confirmed three people were assessed at the scene before one was taken to hospital.

When news of the criminal case first broke, Toney announced his intentions to contest the charge. A spokesperson for the Al-Ahli man 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 represented England at the World Cup earlier in the summer and has made 10 appearances for the national team, scoring once. But he was left out of Thomas Tuchel's squad for the four Nations League matches during this international break, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin among those to be called up in his absence.

Despite that, Northampton-born Toney has made an impressive start to the season at Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro League. Indeed, he has scored 10 goals and provided one assist in just seven league matches.

Toney now has 82 goals and 18 assists in 103 appearances to his name after joining Al-Ahli from Brentford in 2024. The ex-Newcastle and Peterborough frontman had established himself as one of the Premier League's most potent goal-getters before his move to Saudi Arabia, having scored 21 times during the 2022/23 campaign.

He is next expected to be in action for Al-Ahli when they travel to Al Fateh on October 9, marking their first game back following the revamped and expanded three-week international break.