BY Issah Olegor
Ghanaian footballer Thomas Partey, who plays for Villarreal and the Ghana national team, has pleaded not guilty to charges of rape and sexual assault involving three women.
The 32-year-old midfielder appeared in Southwark Crown Court in London on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, and spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth and enter his not guilty pleas.
Allegations And Charges
Thomas Partey is accused of five counts of rape relating to two women and one count of sexual assault against a third woman.
The alleged offences took place between April 2021 and June
Partey left Arsenal this summer and signed for Spain’s Villarreal.
Court Proceedings
Partey was released on bail ahead of his trial, which is scheduled for November 2, 2026.
The trial is expected to last between six and eight weeks. During his court appearance, Partey was met with hostility from some fans, including those of Tottenham Hotspur, Villarreal’s bitter rivals, who booed him loudly whenever he touched the ball during a Champions League game on Tuesday night.
Background
Thomas Partey was signed by Arsenal from Atletico Madrid for 50 million euros ($59m) in 2020 and became a key member of the English side’s first team. His contract with Arsenal expired at the end of June, and he subsequently joined Villarreal.
