Ghanaian international and former Arsenal midfielder, Thomas Partey, has pleaded not guilty to multiple rape and sexual assault charges at Southwark Crown Court in London.
The 32-year-old footballer faces five counts of rape and one charge of sexual assault relating to alleged incidents between 2021 and 2022, during his time in the Premier League.
Partey, who recently joined Spanish side Villarreal after his Arsenal contract expired in June, was formally charged just four days after leaving the north London club.
In court, he spoke only to confirm his name before entering not guilty pleas to each of the charges. The court granted him bail until his trial, which has been scheduled to begin on 2 November next year.
Bail conditions stipulate that Partey must not contact the complainants and must inform police of any international travel at least 24 hours in advance. However, the restrictions do not prevent him from playing football.
The midfielder was already in England as Villarreal faced Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League on Tuesday, where he came on as a substitute in his team’s 1–0 defeat.
The high-profile case is expected to draw significant attention as it unfolds, given Partey’s stature in both European and African football.
