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England international Ivan Toney has been charged with assault following an incident at a nightclub in central London.
The 30-year-old striker, who currently plays for Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli, was charged on July 31 over an incident that allegedly took place on Wardour Street in Soho on Dec. 6.
Toney has been charged with assault causing actual bodily harm. He is scheduled to appear before Westminster Magistrates' Court on Sept. 24, where he will have the opportunity to respond to the allegation.
A spokesperson for the footballer said Toney acknowledges the charge but remains shocked by the development. The representative added that the striker is looking forward to appearing in court and having the opportunity to clear his name.
Toney's charge comes shortly after he represented England at the World Cup, where he was part of the squad that reached the tournament's latter stages.
The striker started England's 6-4 victory over France in the third-place playoff, marking his most significant appearance of the tournament. Aside from that match, Toney's only other appearance came during England's semifinal against Argentina, when he entered the game as a late substitute in the 2-1 defeat.
Despite being a relatively surprising selection for England's World Cup squad, Toney was included following his performances at club level.
Toney began his professional career with Northampton Town before earning moves to several clubs in the English football system. He later had permanent spells with Newcastle United, Peterborough United and Brentford.
His time at Brentford established him as one of the Premier League's prominent strikers and earned him international recognition. Toney eventually left English football in 2024 when he moved to Saudi Arabia to join Al-Ahli.
The forward has since continued his career in the Saudi Pro League while remaining part of the England setup.
The assault charge relates specifically to the alleged incident in Soho and does not constitute a conviction. Toney is due to appear in court in September, where the legal proceedings will begin.
For now, the footballer maintains his position that he will have the opportunity to contest the allegation and clear his name.
The case is expected to attract significant attention given Toney's profile as an England international and his recent involvement at the World Cup. His representatives have indicated that he intends to address the matter through the appropriate legal process.
