Ghana’s Thomas Partey Pleads Not Guilty to Multiple Rape and Assault Charges

Ghanaian international and Villarreal midfielder, Thomas Partey, has pleaded not guilty to multiple rape and sexual assault charges in a London court.

The 32-year-old, formerly of Arsenal, is facing five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault relating to incidents alleged to have occurred between 2021 and 2022 while he was still playing for the Premier League club.

Partey appeared at Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday, confirming his name and date of birth before entering a not-guilty plea to all charges. He was granted bail under strict conditions, including restrictions on contacting the alleged victims and notifying police of any changes in residence or international travel.

His trial has been scheduled for November 2, 2026. Judge Christopher Hehir acknowledged the long wait, citing a significant backlog of cases and prioritisation of defendants currently in custody.

Partey’s court appearance came a day after featuring for Villarreal in their Champions League loss to Tottenham in London. The midfielder, who joined Arsenal from Atletico Madrid in 2020 for £45 million, made 167 appearances and scored nine goals for the club before his contract expired at the end of June.

Arsenal has declined to comment on the case, citing the ongoing legal proceedings.