Thomas Partey pleads not guilty to new rape allegations
Thomas Partey has entered not guilty pleas at Southwark Crown Court in response to two fresh rape allegations dating back to December 2020, reports BritPanorama.
The 32-year-old Ghana international, currently playing for Spanish side Villarreal, appeared before the court to deny the additional charges brought against him in February. According to the prosecution, the midfielder is accused of raping a woman twice in London during a single day in December 2020.
These latest allegations represent a fourth complainant in the case against the former Arsenal player, who moved to the north London club from Atletico Madrid in a deal worth approximately £45 million. Partey already faces five counts of rape involving two women, alongside a charge of sexual assault against a third complainant, following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police.
Partey has denied all earlier allegations, which relate to incidents between 2021 and 2022, and is scheduled to stand trial at Southwark Crown Court in November. His defense lawyer, Jenny Wiltshire, addressed the new charges, stating: “Thomas Partey continues to deny all charges against him. He has cooperated with the police throughout. Given there are ongoing legal proceedings, there will be no further comment.”
The two additional rape allegations emerged after the initial set of charges against Partey became public knowledge earlier this year. Prosecutor Arabella MacDonald informed the court in February: “Mr Partey faces two further charges of rape dating back to December 2020.” Judge Ikram subsequently referred these new charges, involving what prosecutors describe as a fourth alleged victim, to Southwark Crown Court for the hearing at which Partey entered his not guilty pleas.
Partey spent five seasons at Arsenal following his 2020 transfer, making 167 appearances for the club before departing when his contract expired in June last year. The midfielder has since established himself as a regular starter at Villarreal, one of La Liga’s prominent clubs, and remains part of the Ghana national squad.
His bail conditions permit him to continue his football career, though he must provide police with 24 hours’ notice before any international travel and is prohibited from contacting any of the complainants. He most recently featured for Villarreal on 20 March in their La Liga fixture against Real Sociedad. With the trial on the horizon, the complexities of high-profile cases like Partey’s continue to illuminate the often fraught intersection of sport and serious legal challenges.
