England international forward Ivan Toney is scheduled to stand trial in the summer of 2028 following allegations that he assaulted a man at a central London nightclub. The 30-year-old footballer, from Northampton, formally entered a not guilty plea at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday, after which the court established a provisional trial commencement date of 12 June 2028.
The criminal charges arise from an incident on 6 December 2025 at the 100 Wardour Street venue located in Soho. Toney is accused of headbutting and punching Saber Da Silva during an altercation inside the club. The case was brought forward following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police, with the formal charge being made public in July.
During the Thursday hearing, Judge Christopher Hehir addressed the extensive wait before the trial can take place, expressing an apology to the defendant. Judge Hehir stated: "As you may know, the crown courts are operating under a great deal of pressure. We have got a massive backlog of work for various reasons." Following the plea hearing, Toney was granted unconditional bail.
The court's provisional date of 12 June 2028 coincides directly with the group stages of the men's European Championship, which will be co-hosted by England, Scotland, Wales, and the Republic of Ireland. Toney, who featured for the England national team at this summer's World Cup, will now see the Southwark Crown Court proceedings take place during that major international tournament window.