Former Arsenal footballer Thomas Partey now faces two additional counts of rape involving a new alleged victim. This development follows the 32-year-old’s earlier not guilty pleas to five counts of rape concerning two women, along with one count of sexual assault linked to a third woman. Consequently, Partey now stands accused of sexual offences against four women.
The latest charges pertain to alleged incidents from 2020, which were initially reported to the police in August of last year. This update arises from a renewed investigation by the Metropolitan Police. Partey is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on March 13 for a preliminary hearing regarding these new allegations.
In September, the Ghanaian international received conditional bail from Southwark Crown Court after pleading not guilty to the original five charges. The alleged offences, which led to his initial charges last year, reportedly occurred between 2021 and 2022 during his tenure at north London club Arsenal. Notably, he was charged just four days after his departure from Arsenal when his contract expired at the end of June.
The charges stem from an investigation initiated by detectives in February 2022, following the police’s receipt of a rape report. The trial is set to commence under a High Court judge on November 2 of this year.
Since leaving the Premier League, Partey has joined Spanish club Villarreal on a one-year contract, with the signing confirmed after he faced the rape charges. He originally transferred to Arsenal for £45.3 million from Atletico Madrid in October 2020, making 130 Premier League appearances for Mikel Arteta’s squad.
Partey’s lawyer, Jenny Wiltshire, has consistently maintained that he “denies all the charges against him” and has expressed his desire to “finally clear his name.”
