Thomas Partey To Contest New Rape Charges

Former Arsenal footballer Thomas Partey is expected to deny two fresh allegations of rape, a court was informed.

The 32-year-old was charged last month with two counts of raping a woman in December 2020. This follows earlier charges last year of five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault involving different complainants.

Partey was not required to attend a preliminary hearing for the new charges at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday.

However, his barrister, Emma Fenn, indicated his intention to plead not guilty to both counts at a Crown Court hearing scheduled for 10 April.

The Ghanaian midfielder, who now plays for Spanish club Villarreal, was charged last year with five counts of rape against two women and sexual assault against a third alleged victim, following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police.

He has already entered not guilty pleas to all of those allegations, which date back to 2021 and 2022, and is due to stand trial at Southwark Crown Court in November.

Prosecutor Arabella MacDonald told the court: “The complainant came forward after news of Mr Partey’s other matters were widely publicised.”

Partey was released on bail on Friday, with a condition that he does not contact the alleged victim.

The footballer joined Arsenal from Atletico Madrid in 2020 in a transfer valued at approximately £45m, before departing the club in June last year.

He has made over 50 appearances for Ghana, including at the World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations.