England striker Ivan Toney pleads not guilty to assault charge, trial set for 2028

Ivan Toney pleaded not guilty to an assault charge on Thursday, with his trial scheduled for June 2028. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

England international Ivan Toney pleaded not guilty to an assault charge at Southwark Crown Court in London on Thursday, with his trial provisionally scheduled for June 12, 2028.

The 30-year-old striker, who plays for Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli, is accused of headbutting and punching a man following an altercation at a nightclub on Wardour Street in London on December 6, 2025.

Toney appeared before Judge Christopher Hehir during a five-minute hearing and denied a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, according to Britain’s Press Association news agency.

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The judge apologised for the lengthy delay in scheduling the trial, citing a significant backlog of cases in the Crown Courts.

The trial date falls during the 2028 European Championship, which will take place from June 9 to July 9 across England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.

Toney was released on unconditional bail following the hearing.

The England forward began his professional career with Northampton Town and later played for Newcastle United and Peterborough United before joining Brentford in 2020. He moved to Al-Ahli in 2024.

Toney has made 10 appearances for England, scoring once, and was part of the national squad at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.