Thomas Partey, the former Arsenal midfielder now with Villarreal, has pleaded not guilty to five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. The charges relate to alleged offences involving three women between 2021 and 2022.
Partey, 32, spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth, and pleas during a short 14-minute hearing at Southwark Crown Court. He faces trial next year under a High Court judge, beginning on November 2, 2026.
The Ghanaian international was first arrested in July 2022 but was not named at the time. He continued to play for Arsenal throughout the investigation, before his contract expired at the end of June 2024. He was formally charged days later, on July 4.
Judge Christopher Hehir acknowledged the long wait before trial, citing the backlog in crown courts. “Because you have bail, effectively you are sitting behind a queue of people in prison who are waiting to be tried,” he told Partey.
Bail conditions remain in place, preventing any contact with the three women and requiring notification of address or international travel changes. Partey, who previously lived in Hertfordshire, is now based in Spain after joining Villarreal this summer.
The midfielder was in London the night before the hearing, coming on as a substitute in Villarreal’s Champions League clash against Tottenham Hotspur. His appearance at court added further attention to an already high-profile case.
Partey joined Arsenal from Atletico Madrid in 2020 in a £45 million transfer. He made 35 league appearances last season, scoring four goals, and has earned over 50 caps for Ghana, representing his country at the World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations.
Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta previously said he was “100 per cent” confident the club had followed the right process during the investigation. An Arsenal spokesperson also stated they could not comment further due to ongoing proceedings.
The case now moves toward trial, with Partey continuing his career in Spain as he awaits the most serious battle of his professional life.
