London, UK — Former Arsenal midfielder and current Villarreal player, Thomas Partey, has formally pleaded not guilty to multiple rape and sexual assault charges during a court appearance at Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday, September 17, 2025.
The 32-year-old Ghanaian international faces five counts of rape and one charge of sexual assault, relating to alleged offences said to have occurred between 2021 and 2022 while he was still contracted to Arsenal.
Partey, who left Arsenal in June following the expiration of his contract, was charged just four days after his departure. At the hearing, he spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth before entering a not-guilty plea to each charge.
Judge Christopher Hehir, presiding over the case, confirmed that trial proceedings have been scheduled for November 2, 2026, citing the extensive backlog in the UK Crown Courts. “Because you have bail, effectively you are sitting behind a queue of people in prison who are waiting to be tried,” the judge noted.
Partey was granted bail on the same terms previously imposed: he must have no contact with the three women involved and must inform police of any permanent change of address or plans to travel internationally.
The midfielder’s court appearance came just a day after he featured in Villarreal’s 1–0 Champions League defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in London.
Partey joined Arsenal in 2020 from Atletico Madrid in a £45 million ($61 million) deal and went on to make 167 appearances for the Gunners, scoring nine goals. Last season alone, he appeared 52 times across competitions, finding the net four times. On the international stage, he has earned over 50 caps for Ghana.
His move to Villarreal last month marked a fresh chapter in his career, but the pending legal proceedings are set to cast a long shadow over his professional journey.
An Arsenal spokesperson previously confirmed, “The player’s contract ended on June 30. Due to ongoing legal proceedings, the club is unable to comment on the case.”
The trial will be closely watched across the football and legal communities, given Partey’s high-profile career and the gravity of the allegations.
