Thomas Partey Pleads Not Guilty to Rape and Sexual 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, who previously played for Arsenal, faces five counts of rape and one charge of sexual assault relating to alleged offences that occurred between 2021 and 2022 while he was with the Premier League club.

Partey, who spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth, denied all charges during a short hearing at Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday. Judge Christopher Hehir confirmed that his trial will begin on November 2, 2026, noting the delays caused by a significant backlog of cases.

The midfielder was granted bail under strict conditions, including a ban on contacting the three women involved and a requirement to notify police of any change of address or international travel.

His court appearance came a day after playing in Villarreal’s 1-0 Champions League defeat to Tottenham in London. Partey, who joined Villarreal last month following the expiry of his Arsenal contract in June, had earlier spent four years at the North London club after a £45 million move from Atletico Madrid in 2020. He made 167 appearances for Arsenal, scoring nine goals, and has also represented Ghana more than 50 times.

Arsenal, in a brief statement, said they would not comment on the matter due to ongoing legal proceedings.