Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey is set to deny two new allegations of rape, a court heard on Friday, marking the latest development in a series of serious legal proceedings involving the footballer. Partey, 32, was absent from Westminster Magistrates’ Court for the preliminary hearing, where Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram managed the initial stages of the case.
Partey’s lawyer, Emma Fenn, told the court that the midfielder intends to plead not guilty to both new charges. The two allegations relate to incidents that allegedly took place in London in December 2020. The complainant came forward after news of Partey’s earlier legal matters became widely publicized.
This is not the first time Partey has faced legal scrutiny. Last year, he was charged with five counts of rape against two women and sexual assault against a third alleged victim. Those allegations date back to 2021 and 2022. Partey has pleaded not guilty to all previous charges and is due to stand trial at Southwark Crown Court in November.
The new charges involve a fourth alleged victim. Prosecutor Arabella MacDonald told the court, “Mr Partey faces two further charges of rape dating back to December 2020.” The court has sent these new charges to the crown court, with a hearing scheduled for April 10.
Partey, who now plays for Spanish club Villarreal, was previously a key midfielder at Arsenal, joining from Atletico Madrid in 2020 for a transfer fee of around £45 million. During his time at Arsenal, he made a significant impact on the field, while also earning more than 50 caps for Ghana, including appearances at the World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations.
Following Friday’s hearing, Partey was released on bail, with conditions that include no contact with the alleged victim. He is expected to appear at the next court hearing in April as the legal process continues.
This latest development adds to a complex and ongoing legal situation for Partey, whose professional career and public profile remain under close scrutiny as investigations unfold.
