By Tim Parsons-
Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has pleaded not guilty to five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault at Southwark Crown Court in London. The Ghanaian midfielder’s court appearance on Wednesday came just hours after he was a second-half substitute for Villarreal in their Champions League match against Tottenham Hotspur. Partey, who denies all charges, will face trial under a High Court judge on November 2, 2026.
Thomas Partey arrives at Southwark Crown Court in London. Pic: PA
Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey pleaded not guilty to all charges against him at Southwark Crown Court. He is accused of five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, with the alleged offenses relating to three women in 2021 and 2022. The 32-year-old, who now plays for Spanish side Villarreal, spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth, and his pleas during the hearing. The case will proceed to trial next year.
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Partey in action for Villarreal against Tottenham on Tuesday night. Pic: Reuters
Partey’s appearance in court came just a day after he returned to London for a Champions League match, playing as a substitute against Tottenham Hotspur. The Ghanaian midfielder was first arrested in July 2022, but was not publicly named at the time. He continued playing for Arsenal while the investigation was ongoing. He was charged with the offenses on July 4, just days after his contract with Arsenal expired.
The Road Ahead After Thomas Partey Pleads Not Guilty
At the conclusion of the hearing, Judge Christopher Hehir granted Partey bail under the same conditions as before. The player must not contact any of the three women and has to inform the police of any changes of address or international travel. Judge Hehir told the midfielder that while he understood the long wait for the trial, “The crown courts have a huge backlog of work which means that trials do take a long time to come on.” Because he is on bail, Partey is “effectively… sitting behind a queue of people in prison who are waiting to be tried.” His trial is scheduled for November 2, 2026, at the same court and is expected to take up to eight weeks.
This latest development in the case follows previous statements from Partey’s lawyer, Jenny Wiltshire, who said he “denies all the charges against him” and “welcomes the opportunity to finally clear his name.” The fact that Thomas Partey pleads not guilty sets the stage for a high-profile trial that will likely attract significant attention. For more information on the legal proceedings, you can read about the Crown Prosecution Service’s role in the UK criminal justice system.
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The following video offers a report and analysis of the situation.
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