Joey Barton was sued for libel by former England striker Eni Aluko and has now been told to pay over £300,000 in damages and legal costs after losing the case
13:05, 10 Mar 2026Updated 13:05, 10 Mar 2026
Joey Barton has been ordered to pay Eni Aluko(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Joey Barton has been told to pay Eni Aluko more than £300,000 in damages and legal costs after he was sued for libel.
Former England forward and pundit Aluko brought legal action against Barton over two posts he made in 2024 on social media site X.
On Tuesday, the High Court heard the case had been stayed, with Barton to pay “substantial” damages and Aluko’s legal costs.
Gervase de Wilde, for Aluko, said that in the two X posts Barton had wrongly claimed she had “cynically sought to exploit her status as an alleged victim of racism and bullying”, and that she was a hypocrite.
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Barton – who has managed Fleetwood and Bristol Rovers – did not attend the hearing, with Mr de Wilde telling the court that he “was arrested yesterday and is currently being held in custody”.
The barrister said that between January and August 2024, Barton published 48 posts relating to Aluko on his X account, adding that he had “carried out a deliberately targeted public campaign of vilification”.
Mr de Wilde said one post included an image of Aluko’s head superimposed onto serial killer Rosemary West’s body.
Eni Aluko was targeted by Joey Barton on social media(Image: 2024 Getty Images)
He continued: “The campaign amounted to an attack on multiple aspects of her life and personality.”
“Mr Barton’s campaign caused Ms Aluko enormous distress. When she sought to defend herself against Mr Barton’s conduct, and that of his followers, he criticised and attacked her for doing so,” he added.
Mr de Wilde said Aluko was worried that however she tried to stop the harassment, Barton “would exploit and manipulate it to use against her”.
The barrister continued: “Mr Barton has now accepted that his campaign against Ms Aluko amounted to harassment and that he should not have made the publications.”
Joey Barton has been ordered to pay £339,000(Image: PA)
According to a court order seen by the Press Association, Barton has been told to pay £339,000 – with the first £100,000 plus interest due by March 24.
Mr Justice Lavender granted Barton seven days to ask to change the order.
Aluko attended the London court on Tuesday and told PA after the hearing: “I’m glad it’s the end.”