Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has pleaded not guilty to two new allegations of rape. The 32-year-old appeared at Southwark Crown Court on Monday to deny raping a woman twice in London on a single day in December 2020.
Partey, who left Arsenal for Villarreal last summer, was charged in July last year with five counts of rape and one allegation of sexual assault, dating back to 2021 and 2022. He previously pleaded not guilty to those charges, and a trial was set for November this year.
The two new rape charges were announced in February. On Monday, Mr Justice Baumgartner, the recorder of Westminster, agreed for all the allegations to be tried together. However, he warned Partey and lawyers that the trial could now be delayed until January next year.
In total, Partey has pleaded not guilty to seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, relating to allegations from four different women. Wearing dark grey trousers, a black jumper over a white shirt and smart black shoes, he spoke to confirm his name and enter the two not guilty pleas. He left the dock with his charcoal grey suit jacket slung over his left shoulder.
Partey was absent from Westminster Magistrates' Court last month when the charges first came before a judge, but his lawyer indicated that not guilty pleas would be entered. The midfielder, who previously lived in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, joined Arsenal from Atlético Madrid in 2020 for about £45m and left in June 2025 upon contract expiry. He may play for Ghana against England during this summer's World Cup group stages.
Partey's case is next due in court for a pre-trial hearing on 14 May, with the exact trial date to be confirmed once the judge is assigned.
