Ex Arsenal star Thomas Partey pleads not guilty to rape

Former Arsenal ace Thomas Partey, now at Villarreal, faces explosive rape and sexual assault charges as court sets a 2026 trial after tense north London return

Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has pleaded not guilty to a series of serious sexual offences during a hearing at Southwark Crown Court.

The 32-year-old, who now plays for Villarreal in Spain, faces five counts of rape relating to two women, alongside one count of sexual assault concerning a third woman. The alleged incidents are said to have occurred between 2021 and 2022, while he was contracted to Arsenal.

Partey spoke only to confirm his name, age, and his pleas of not guilty during the short hearing before High Court Judge Christopher Hehir.

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The judge confirmed that his trial has been listed for 2 November 2026 at Southwark Crown Court, noting that the extended delay reflects the significant backlog in the Crown Court system, with custody cases prioritised over those where defendants remain on bail.

The midfielder remains on bail under strict conditions, including that he must not make contact with any of the complainants, and must notify police of any permanent changes of address or of any international travel. The same conditions were imposed at an earlier hearing and continue in force.

The plea hearing followed swiftly after Partey’s appearance on the pitch in north London the previous evening. He was brought on as a substitute for Villarreal during their Champions League clash against Tottenham Hotspur at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, a match Villarreal went on to lose 1-0.

His introduction drew a notably hostile reaction from the home crowd, with repeated chants of:

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echoing around the stadium as he warmed up and took to the field.

Partey, a Ghanaian international with more than 50 senior caps, has been under police investigation since February 2022 when the Metropolitan Police received the first report of alleged rape.

He nonetheless continued to play for Arsenal until his contract expired on 30 June 2025, clocking up 167 appearances for the club in all competitions following his £45 million transfer from Atlético Madrid in 2020. His move to Villarreal was completed in August as a free transfer, and he has since combined club duties in Spain with international appearances for Ghana in World Cup qualifiers.

His case will now progress through the Crown Court timetable with trial preparation hearings expected in the interim. If it proceeds as scheduled, the trial will open in late 2026 before a High Court judge, with a jury expected to consider the allegations in detail.

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