England footballer Ivan Toney charged with assault after ‘headbutting fan who wanted selfie’ in Soho nightclub
England footballer Ivan Toney has been charged after allegedly headbutting a fan who was trying to get a selfie at a Soho nightclub.
The 30-year-old striker was charged with assault causing actual bodily harm last Thursday after an incident at 100 Wardour Street in London on December 6 last year.
Toney, who is originally from Northampton but currently plays for Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli, will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on September 24.
Reports at the time alleged that the former Brentford player, who moved to Al-Ahli for £40million two years ago, had been grabbed by a fan who had wanted a selfie.
A witness said: ‘He [Toney] walked past a table of a group of lads. One of them recognised him and said, ‘Oh, it’s Ivan Toney’ and tried to put his hands around his neck to get a photo with him. And then Toney has said, ‘Get off me, get off me’.’
The witness said Toney wore a ‘real nice watch’ and may have been concerned he was being mugged. Toney was reportedly arrested after an alleged headbutt.
His spokesperson said: ‘Ivan acknowledges the charge and although he is naturally shocked, he looks forward to being given the opportunity to clear his name in court.’
A Metropolitan Police statement said today: ‘A man has been charged with assault following a Met investigation. Ivan Toney, 30, of Northampton, was charged on Thursday, July 31 with assault causing actual bodily harm.
England’s Ivan Toney ahead of kick off against France at the World Cup in Miami on July 18
The alleged incident took place at 100 Wardour Street in London’s Soho (file photograph)
‘He will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, September 24. The charge relates to an assault, which reportedly took place on December 6, 2025 at a nightclub on Wardour Street, W1.’
Toney has been on unconditional bail since being arrested by the Met last year, but was granted a US visa and allowed to travel to the World Cup in June.
He played twice – coming on as a substite in the final minutes of England’s semi-final defeat to Argentina, then starting the third-place play off victory against France.
Toney began his career at hometown club Northampton Town in 2012, scoring 11 goals across 53 appearances before signing for Newcastle United three years later.
He only played twice for Newcastle between 2015 and 2018 but had loan spells in that period at Barnsley, Shrewsbury Town, Scunthorpe United and Wigan Athletic.
Toney then joined Peterborough United for about £350,000 in 2018, where he scored 40 goals in 76 appearances, before a big-money move to Brentford in 2020.
This was for an initial fee of £5million which later rose to £10million. He scored 67 times across 128 appearances for Brentford before leaving for Saudi Arabia in 2024.
Toney signed with Al-Ahli until 2028 and has so far scored 55 goals across 62 appearances, winning the AFC Champions League Elite title in his first season.
He has played ten times for England, with his debut coming at Wembley against Ukraine in March 2023 and his only goal being against Belgium in March 2024.
100 Wardour Street opened in 2016 but shut in January. It is on the site of the former Marquee Club, which hosted early gigs from The Rolling Stones and David Bowie.