Thomas Partey to plead not guilty to new rape charges
Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey is set to deny two new counts of rape, according to proceedings at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
The 32-year-old Ghana international was charged last month with two counts of raping a woman in December 2020. Partey, who was excused from attending the brief hearing, will enter not guilty pleas to both allegations at Southwark Crown Court on April 10, his barrister Emma Fenn indicated.
The new charges involve a fourth alleged victim, who came forward after news of previous allegations against Partey became public, prosecutor Arabella MacDonald told the court. “The complainant came forward after news of Mr Partey’s other matters were widely publicised,” she said.
Partey was already facing five counts of rape against two women and one count of sexual assault against a third alleged victim following a Metropolitan Police investigation. He has pleaded not guilty to all those allegations, which date back to 2021 and 2022, and is scheduled to stand trial in November.
The footballer was released on bail with a condition not to contact the alleged victim.
Partey joined Arsenal from Atletico Madrid in 2020 for £45 million and left the club last June. He now plays for Spanish side Villarreal and has earned over 50 caps for Ghana.
