Ivan Toney has pleaded not guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm after being accused of attacking a man at a nightclub in London's Soho.
The England striker, 30, entered his plea at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Thursday over an alleged incident at a nightclub on Wardour Street in central London on December 6 last year.
Toney arrived at court shortly after 9.30am, accompanied by three members of his entourage, ahead of a hearing scheduled for 10am.
The Al-Ahli forward, who is from Northampton, was charged on July 31 following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police.
He had previously denied the allegation through a statement issued on his behalf when the criminal case became public.
"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 spokesman said.
Thursday's appearance followed a postponement of his first hearing, which had originally been scheduled for September 24.
A court official previously said the appearance had been moved to October 1 after a request for a delay was received the evening before the original date.
The case concerns an alleged incident in December 2025, before Toney represented England at this summer's World Cup.
He has made 10 appearances for the national team and scored once, having made his international debut in March 2023.
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However, the striker was not included in England's latest squad for their four Nations League fixtures.
Toney currently plays in Saudi Arabia following his move from Brentford to Al-Ahli in 2024, ending a four-year spell with the west London club.
His transfer, reportedly worth £40million, took him out of the Premier League after establishing himself as a figure in Brentford's attack.
He joined the Bees in 2020 and helped secure their promotion to the Premier League the following year.
During that promotion-winning Championship campaign, Toney scored 31 goals in the regular season and added another two in the play-offs.
His rise began earlier, at hometown club Northampton Town, where he made his first-team debut in 2012 aged 16.
That appearance made him Northampton's youngest first-team player, and his performances subsequently earned him a move to Newcastle United at 19.
His career also included spells with Wigan Athletic and Peterborough United before his arrival at Brentford.
International recognition followed his progress through English football, with Toney later selected for Gareth Southgate's Euro 2024 squad.
He scored in England's quarter-final penalty shootout against Switzerland, going viral for his technique of watching the goalkeeper rather than looking down at the ball.
Two years later, he was named in Thomas Tuchel's squad for the World Cup in North America.
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