Former Arsenal player Partey to plead not guilty to 2 new rape charges

Ghana international Thomas Partey faced initial charges of rape just days after leaving Arsenal last summer.Published On 13 Mar 2026Former Arsenal player Thomas Partey intends to plead not guilty to two new charges of rape, his lawyer told a London court on Friday.The 32-year-old Ghana midfielder, who now plays for Spanish club Villarreal, is separately awaiting trial on five counts of rape related to two women and one count of sexual assault involving a third woman.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Pakistan’s Abrar signed by India-owned Sunrisers in Hundred auctionlist 2 of 4‘Bro, what’: LeBron, social media react to Adebayo’s historic 83-point gamelist 3 of 4Sensational Valverde hat-trick puts Real Madrid in command against Man Citylist 4 of 4What are the five key talking points surrounding the FIFA World Cup 2026?end of listThe new charges were brought after a different woman alleged Partey twice raped her on the same day in December 2020. According to a court hearing on Friday, the new allegations arose after the first set of charges were publicised.Partey was not required to attend Friday’s preliminary session at Westminster Magistrates’ Court. His lawyer, Emma Fenn, indicated he intends to plead not guilty to both charges. The next court date for the case is April 10.Partey pleaded not guilty to the first set of charges and faces trial in November at Southwark Crown Court. Those alleged offences were between 2021 and 2022, prosecutors have said.The midfielder had joined Arsenal in 2020 from Atletico Madrid.He was initially charged last July, just days after his Arsenal contract expired. Villarreal signed him in August, two days after he was granted bail.Ghana has qualified for the World Cup and is in the same group as England, Croatia and Panama.Partey played in three World Cup qualifying games in September and October. He has made more than 50 appearances for Ghana.