Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has pleaded not guilty to multiple charges of rape and sexual assault during a recent court appearance in London. The 32-year-old, who now plays for Spanish club Villarreal, faces five counts of rape against two women and one count of sexual assault against a third woman. The alleged offenses are said to have occurred between 2021 and 2022, when Partey was still with Arsenal.
Partey entered his pleas at Southwark Crown Court, confirming his name and date of birth before denying all six charges. His appearance followed his participation in Villarreal's Champions League match against Tottenham Hotspur the previous night, where he came on as a substitute.
The trial has been scheduled for November 2, 2026, a date Judge Christopher Hehir acknowledged was "quite a long way in advance" due to a significant backlog of cases in the Crown Courts. Partey has been granted bail under the conditions that he must not contact any of the three women involved and must inform the police of any changes to his address or international travel plans.
Partey's legal team, led by Jenny Wiltshire of Hickman and Rose solicitors, issued a statement earlier in the summer asserting his innocence and stating that he has fully cooperated with the police and CPS throughout their three-year investigation.
The charges against Partey were brought in July, shortly after his contract with Arsenal expired at the end of June. The Metropolitan Police initially received reports of the alleged rape in February 2022. He initially appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on August 5, where he was granted conditional bail.
Partey joined Arsenal in 2020 from Atletico Madrid for a reported fee of around £45 million. He was a regular player for the Gunners, making 35 appearances in his final season before leaving on a free transfer to Villarreal in August 2025. Prior to joining Arsenal, he played for Atlético Madrid, making 188 appearances, and had loan spells at Mallorca and Almería.
An Arsenal spokesperson previously stated that the player's contract ended on June 30 and that, due to ongoing legal proceedings, the club was unable to comment further on the case.
