England striker Ivan Toney has appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court to deny an assault charge over an alleged incident at a nightclub in Soho, central London.
The 30-year-old, who was born in Northampton, confirmed his name and age at the start of this morning’s brief hearing before entering a not-guilty plea. He is accused of assaulting Saber Da Silva at a venue in Wardour Street in the early hours of 6 December last year.
Toney arrived at the court shortly after 9.30am to face the charge for the first time, with the hearing having been delayed by a week. He denies the allegation. He has not been convicted of any offence, and nothing has been proven against him.
The court heard that Toney has elected for the case to be tried at the Crown Court. He was granted bail and is due to appear at Southwark Crown Court on 29 October.
Following Thursday’s plea hearing, the case will be adjourned while both sides prepare for trial. The court can impose bail conditions on a defendant awaiting trial and will set a timetable for the exchange of evidence between the prosecution and the defence. Any trial will hear the full details of the allegation, along with Toney’s response to it.
The charge followed an investigation by the Metropolitan Police into the alleged incident at the Soho venue. As criminal proceedings are now active, strict reporting restrictions apply to what can be published about the case to avoid prejudicing a future trial.
Toney has won 10 caps for England and was part of the national squad at Euro 2024. He also featured in England’s final match of the 2026 World Cup this summer. He began his professional career at his hometown club Northampton Town and went on to play for a string of English clubs, including Wigan Athletic, before moving to Saudi Arabia to join Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro League.
The case has attracted national attention because of Toney’s profile as an England international, and his arrival at court this morning was covered by broadcasters and newspapers.
The alleged incident is said to have taken place on Wardour Street, one of the main roads running through the heart of Soho. The street sits at the centre of one of London’s most famous nightlife districts, lined with bars, restaurants, clubs and late-night venues that draw thousands of revellers into the West End every weekend.
Policing the capital’s night-time economy is one of the biggest tasks facing the Metropolitan Police, with officers deployed in significant numbers across Soho, Leicester Square and Oxford Street during peak hours to deal with disorder, assaults and other late-night offences. Violence linked to the night-time economy regularly ends up before the courts.
A plea hearing of this kind is normally a defendant’s first appearance before a magistrates’ court. The court confirms the defendant’s identity, the charge is put to them, and they are asked to indicate a plea. Where a not-guilty plea is entered, the case is listed for trial at a later date, while the court deals with preliminary matters such as bail and reporting arrangements.
Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Marylebone Road routinely handles high-profile criminal cases from across the capital. Earlier this year it dealt with the first-ever genocide charges brought in the UK, against Dr Vincent Brown over the 1994 Rwanda killings.
London’s courts regularly hear cases connected to violence in the night-time economy. British Transport Police recently released CCTV images after a serious assault at Liverpool Street station, while officers also appealed for information after a man was punched in the face at Hackney Downs station.
The case against Toney will now move to the Crown Court, with his next appearance due at Southwark Crown Court on 29 October. The allegation against him remains exactly that — an allegation — and it will be for a court to determine the outcome after hearing the evidence from both sides.
