Former Arsenal midfielder, Thomas Partey has pleaded not guilty to multiple rape and sexual assault charges during a court appearance at Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday.
The 32-year-old Ghana international, who now plays for Villarreal, is accused of five counts of rape against two women and one count of sexual assault against a third woman.
The alleged offences took place between 2021 and 2022, while Partey was still playing in the Premier League for Arsenal.
Thomas Partey Court Proceedings
Partey spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth before entering not guilty pleas to all charges during the short hearing.
Judge Christopher Hehir confirmed that the trial will begin on 2 November 2026, acknowledging the delay due to a severe court backlog.
“Your trial will take place at this court on Nov. 2 of next year, 2026. I appreciate that is quite a long way in advance.”
“As you may appreciate, the crown courts have a huge backlog of work which means that trials do take a long time to come on,” the judge told Partey.
“Because you have bail, effectively you are sitting behind a queue of people in prison who are waiting to be tried.”
The Villareal midfielder was granted bail on the same conditions imposed at an earlier hearing:
- he must not contact any of the three women involved, and
- must notify police of any permanent change of address or international travel.
Spurs Fans Boo Partey Ahead of Hearing
Partey’s appearance in court came less than 24 hours after he featured for Villarreal in their Champions League clash with Tottenham Hotspur in London.
Starting on the bench, Partey came on in the 78th minute, but was immediately booed by Spurs fans, who jeered every time he touched the ball. Tottenham went on to secure a 1–0 victory.
Background
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Partey joined Arsenal from Atlético Madrid in 2020 for £45 million ($61.4m), making 35 Premier League appearances last season and scoring four goals.
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His Arsenal contract expired on 30 June 2025, just days before he was officially charged.
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Villarreal announced his signing on 7 August 2025, two days after his initial court appearance where he was first granted bail.
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Partey has made over 50 appearances for Ghana, including at the FIFA World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations.
An Arsenal spokesperson said earlier this year:
“The player’s contract ended on June 30. Due to ongoing legal proceedings, the club is unable to comment on the case.”
Partey’s lawyer, Jenny Wiltshire, has insisted he denies all allegations, saying her client “welcomes the opportunity to finally clear his name.”
