Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey has pleaded not guilty to multiple rape and sexual assault charges as he prepares to stand trial in London.
The 32 year old footballer faces five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, involving allegations made by three women. Prosecutors say the incidents took place between 2021 and 2022, when Partey was playing for Arsenal.
Partey was charged in July after a police investigation that began in February 2022. He appeared at Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday, where a trial date was set for November 2, 2026.
Under his bail conditions, Partey is not barred from playing football, but must notify police of any international travel at least 24 hours in advance and must not contact the complainants.
The midfielder signed for Spanish club Villarreal in August, two days after being granted conditional bail at Westminster Magistrates’ Court. He returned to England on Tuesday night when Villarreal faced Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League, his first match on English soil since the charges were brought.
Partey joined Arsenal from Atletico Madrid in October 2020 for a transfer fee of €50 million, making 167 appearances before his contract expired in June. He has represented Ghana 53 times, including at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
