Ivan Toney will face trial in June 2028 over allegations that he assaulted a man at a nightclub in central London, following a court hearing that confirmed the case will take nearly two years to reach trial.
The England international and Al-Ahli forward pleaded not guilty to a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday, October 29. He is accused of headbutting and punching Saber Da Silva during an alleged confrontation at 100 Wardour Street, a nightclub in London’s Soho district, on December 6, 2025.
Judge Christopher Hehir provisionally scheduled the trial for June 12, 2028, and apologised to Toney for the lengthy wait. The judge explained that crown courts were facing significant pressure and a substantial backlog of cases, leaving defendants waiting extended periods for their trials.
“That’s a long way, I’m sorry about that,” Hehir told the footballer, acknowledging the delay and the strain on the court system.
Toney, 30, appeared in court wearing a black button-up cardigan over a white shirt and tie. He was released on unconditional bail and instructed to maintain regular contact with his solicitors while awaiting trial. The judge stressed that keeping in touch with his legal team was important and reminded him of his obligation to attend court when required.
Hehir also warned Toney that failing to appear could constitute a criminal offence punishable by imprisonment. The judge added that proceedings could continue in his absence if he did not attend the scheduled trial.
The June 2028 trial date falls during the group stage of Euro 2028, which will be hosted across the United Kingdom and Ireland. The timing could complicate Toney’s potential availability for England during the tournament, although no decision has been announced about his international selection.
The charge followed a Metropolitan Police investigation and was announced in July, three weeks after the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Toney was part of England’s squad under manager Thomas Tuchel at the tournament, appearing as a substitute against Argentina in the semi-final before starting the third-place play-off victory over France.
However, the striker was subsequently left out of Tuchel’s squad for the Nations League fixtures held in late September and early October. His omission came before the latest court hearing, and no direct link between the selection decision and the criminal proceedings has been established.
Details of the alleged incident were outlined at an earlier hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in October. Prosecutor Tom Heslop told the court that Toney and Da Silva exchanged words before confronting each other.
Heslop alleged that Toney then lunged forward and headbutted Da Silva before delivering several punches. The complainant was said to have suffered injuries to his nose and fingers.
Toney denied the allegation at the magistrates’ court hearing and requested that the case be heard at crown court. Following the announcement of the charge, a spokesperson for the player said he intended to challenge the accusation.
“Ivan acknowledges the charge and although he is naturally shocked, he looks forward to being given the opportunity to clear his name in court,” the spokesperson said.
The case now remains pending until the scheduled trial, where the allegations will be examined. Toney’s not-guilty plea means the charge has not been proven, and the outcome will be determined through the court process.
Toney has earned 10 caps for England during his international career. He began his professional journey at Northampton Town before spells with Newcastle United and Peterborough United. His career advanced significantly at Brentford, where his goals helped the club secure promotion to the Premier League in 2021.
In 2024, he moved to Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli in a transfer reported to be worth £40 million. He has since continued his career in the Saudi Pro League while remaining a player with international experience for England.
The next major development in the criminal proceedings is expected when the case returns to court ahead of the provisional June 2028 trial date. Until then, Toney remains on unconditional bail, and the allegations against him remain unresolved.
