England international striker Ivan Toney has been charged with assault causing actual bodily harm in connection with an incident at a nightclub in central London, the Metropolitan Police have confirmed.
The 30-year-old, who now plies his trade for Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli, was formally charged on 31 July. The charge stems from an alleged altercation on 6 December last year at a venue on Wardour Street in Soho. According to the Sun newspaper, Toney was arrested shortly after the incident following reports of an alleged head-butt.
Toney is scheduled to appear before Westminster Magistrates' Court on 24 September to answer the charge.
A spokesperson issued a statement on the striker's behalf, saying: "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 development comes at a notable point in Toney's career. He rose to prominence during a successful spell at Brentford after starting out at Northampton Town and having permanent stints with Newcastle and Peterborough. He left the Premier League in 2024 to join Al-Ahli in Jeddah, where he has since established himself as one of the league's most prolific forwards, scoring 55 goals in 62 appearances across two seasons.
Despite plying his trade outside England's top flight, Toney remained part of Thomas Tuchel's England set-up and was a somewhat unexpected inclusion in the squad for last month's World Cup. His involvement in the tournament was limited, however, featuring as a late substitute in the semi-final loss to Argentina before starting in England's dramatic 6-4 victory over France in the third-place play-off, often dubbed the "bronze final."
The timing of the charge coincides with growing transfer speculation linking Toney with a return to the Premier League. Reports have connected him with Newcastle United, particularly after Matthias Jaissle — his former head coach at Al-Ahli — was appointed as the Magpies' new manager. Whether the pending legal proceedings will have any bearing on such a move remains unclear.
Toney's case is set to draw significant attention given his profile as an England international and prolific goal-scorer. He will have the opportunity to respond to the allegation when he appears in court in September, with the legal process now set to run its course.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport, Standard, and The Guardian.