Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has denied five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault during a brief hearing at Southwark Crown Court.
The 32-year-old Ghanaian international, playing for Spanish side Villarreal, is accused of raping two women and sexually assaulting a third between 2021 and 2022, while he was still with Arsenal.
Partey appeared in court on Wednesday, speaking only to confirm his identity and enter not guilty pleas during the 14-minute session. His trial has been scheduled for November 2, 2026, to be heard by a High Court judge at the same venue.
He was initially arrested in July 2022, though his identity was not publicly disclosed at the time. He continued to play for Arsenal throughout the investigation until his contract ended in June 2025. Charges were formally brought against him on July 4.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta stated in July that he was “100 per cent” confident the club had handled the situation appropriately.
Partey’s court appearance came just a day after he featured as a substitute in Villarreal’s Champions League match against Tottenham Hotspur in London.
Judge Christopher Hehir acknowledged the lengthy delay before trial, citing a significant backlog in the crown court system. He explained that because Partey is out on bail, priority is given to defendants currently in custody.
The bail conditions remain unchanged: Partey must not contact any of the three complainants and is required to inform police of any permanent address changes or international travel.
