- Thomas Partey appeared at Southwark Crown Court on rape and sexual assault charges.
- He faces five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, alleged between 2021–2022.
- Partey pleaded not guilty to all charges.
- Trial scheduled to begin November 2, 2026.
- Granted bail with conditions: notify police before international travel, no contact with complainants.
- Initially charged on July 4, 2025, granted conditional bail on August 5.
- Joined Villarreal after leaving Arsenal; debuted in UCL loss to Tottenham.
- Villarreal released a statement affirming respect for the presumption of innocence.
Ghanaian international and former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has pleaded not guilty to all charges brought against him in the United Kingdom. The 32-year-old appeared before Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday morning, where he denied allegations of rape and sexual assault.
Partey faces five counts of rape involving two women and an additional charge of sexual assault against a third woman, with the incidents alleged to have occurred between 2021 and 2022. His trial has been scheduled to commence on November 2, 2026.
Following his plea, Partey was granted bail, allowing him to continue playing professional football while awaiting trial. Under the conditions, he must notify police at least 24 hours before any international travel and is barred from contacting the complainants.
Partey had previously been given conditional bail on August 5, after being charged by the Crown Prosecution Service in July. The midfielder, who left Arsenal earlier this year, has since signed a one-year deal with Villarreal, making his debut in their Champions League defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday.
Villarreal has acknowledged the legal proceedings, stressing that the player maintains his innocence. The club added that it respects the presumption of innocence and will await the outcome of the judicial process before making further comments.
