Thomas Partey to deny new rape allegations as court sets April hearing
Ghana international Thomas Partey is set to deny two new allegations of rape after appearing in court proceedings in the United Kingdom.
The midfielder was charged in February with two counts of rape relating to an alleged incident involving a woman in December 2020. The charges add to five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault brought against him last year involving separate complainants.
Partey did not attend the preliminary hearing for the latest charges at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday, March 13, 2026. His lawyer, Emma Fenn, told the court that the former Arsenal player intends to plead not guilty when he appears at a crown court hearing scheduled for April 10.
The 32-year-old, who currently plays for Villarreal CF, has already entered not guilty pleas to the earlier allegations, which date between 2021 and 2022. His trial on those charges is expected to begin at Southwark Crown Court in November.
During the hearing, prosecutor Arabella MacDonald told the court that the complainant in the new case came forward after media reports about the earlier allegations became widely known.
Partey was released on bail following Friday’s hearing with a condition that he must not contact the alleged victim.
The midfielder joined Arsenal from Atlético Madrid in 2020 in a transfer reported to be worth around £45 million before leaving the club last year.
He has made more than 50 appearances for Ghana, representing the country at both the World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations.
