Thomas Partey pleads not guilty to sexual assault charges in London

Ghanaian and Villarreal midfielder Thomas Partey has denied the charges of him raping two women and sexually assaulting a third woman.

The former Arsenal footballer pleaded not guilty to five counts of rape and one charge of sexual assault when he appeared at Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday.

Ex-Arsenal star Thomas Partey has pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault charges in the UK court. pic.twitter.com/mnxNocf3Gb

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The alleged offenses are said to have occurred between 2021 and 2022, during his time as a player for Premier League club Arsenal. He was charged four days after leaving the north London club, following the expiration of his contract at the end of June.

The 32 year old was granted bail until his trial, which is due to start at the same court on November 2, 2026. He spoke to confirm his name before pleading not guilty to each of the charges made against him.

The lengthy delay for the trial was acknowledged by Judge Christopher Hehir, who noted the substantial backlog of cases in the UK’s crown courts, stating that defendants on bail are placed “behind a queue of people in prison who are waiting to be tried.”

Partey now plays for Villarreal

Partey, who now plays for Spanish side Villareal, was already in England as his new team played Spurs in the Champions League on Tuesday. He came on as a substitute in what turned out to be a 1-0 loss for his team.

Despite the ongoing legal proceedings, the conditions of his bail do not prevent Partey from continuing his professional football career. However, he is subject to strict conditions, including a requirement to notify police 24 hours in advance of any international travel and a prohibition from contacting the three complainants.

Partey’s legal team has previously stated that he “denies all the charges against him” and that he “welcomes the opportunity to finally clear his name.”

The case remains a prominent topic in the football world, with the outcome to be decided by the court in late 2026.