Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey pleads not guilty to rape and assault charges in UK court
Ghana and Villarreal midfielder Thomas Partey has pleaded not guilty to allegations of raping two women and sexually assaulting a third.
The 32-year-old, formerly with Arsenal, faces five counts of rape and one of sexual assault. He appeared at Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday, where he confirmed his name and date of birth before entering his pleas during a brief hearing.
Judge Christopher Hehir scheduled the trial for November 2, 2026, citing a backlog of cases. Partey was granted bail under conditions that bar him from contacting the women involved and require him to notify police of any address changes or international travel.
The alleged offences are said to have occurred between 2021 and 2022 while Partey was still an Arsenal player. He was charged shortly after leaving the Premier League club at the end of his contract in June.
His court appearance came just a day after featuring for Villarreal in a 1-0 Champions League defeat to Tottenham in London.
Partey, who joined Arsenal from Atlético Madrid in 2020 for around £45 million, made 167 appearances and scored nine goals for the Gunners before moving to Villarreal last month. He has also represented Ghana more than 50 times.
Arsenal has declined to comment on the case, citing the ongoing legal process.
