Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has entered not guilty pleas to two new allegations of rape during a hearing at Southwark Crown Court in London. The 32-year-old footballer, who now plays for La Liga club Villarreal, appeared in court on Monday to deny raping a woman twice on a single day in December 2020.
Seven Charges of Rape in Total
Partey now faces a total of seven counts of rape and one allegation of sexual assault, relating to accusations from four different women. He was previously charged in July last year with five counts of rape and one sexual assault charge, dating back to 2021 and 2022, to which he had already pleaded not guilty.
Trial May Be Delayed Until Next Year
Mr Justice Baumgartner, the recorder of Westminster, agreed for all allegations to be tried together but warned that the trial could be delayed until January next year. The trial was originally scheduled for November this year.
During Monday's hearing, Partey wore dark grey trousers, a black jumper over a white shirt, and smart black shoes. He spoke to confirm his name and enter the two not guilty pleas before leaving the dock with his charcoal grey suit jacket slung over his left shoulder.
Previous Court Appearances
Partey was absent from Westminster Magistrates Court last month when the charges were first presented to a judge, but his lawyer had indicated that not guilty pleas would be entered. The footballer previously lived in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, during his time with Arsenal.
Football Career and World Cup Prospects
The Ghanaian international joined Arsenal from Atlético Madrid in 2020 in a transfer worth approximately £45 million. He left the club in June 2025 upon the expiry of his contract. Despite the ongoing legal proceedings, Partey may still feature for Ghana against England during the group stages of this summer's World Cup tournament.
Next Court Date Scheduled
Partey's case is next due to be listed in court for a pre-trial hearing on 14 May. A final decision on the exact trial date will be made once the presiding judge has been confirmed. The legal proceedings continue to unfold as the footballer maintains his innocence against all allegations.
