Thomas Partey has indicated he is likely to plead not guilty when the two most recent rape charges against the Villarreal midfielder are transferred to a crown court next month.
Partey, 32, did not attend Friday’s hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, but was represented by his legal team.
His case has been transferred to Southwark Crown Court and the Ghana international has been told he is expected to attend a first hearing there on April 10 or he will be in violation of his bail conditions. No formal plea for these two new charges has been entered yet, but lawyers operating under Partey’s instruction indicated he is likely to plead not guilty.
At a hearing in September 2025, the former Arsenal midfielder had already pleaded not guilty to five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault against three women.
In February, Partey was then charged with an additional two counts of rape against a different woman.
The deputy chief magistrate, Tan Ikram, ordered that Partey is not to contact directly or indirectly this new complainant, in line with the bail conditions he was served previously. Those bail conditions also state that he must inform authorities of any change of address or international travel.
Partey left Arsenal last summer (Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
A trial date for the first five charges has been set for Southwark Crown Court, commencing on November 2, 2026. Whether the additional two charges will be tried in conjunction with the preceding five is likely to be determined on April 10.
Partey’s defence lawyer, Jenny Wiltshire, said last month: “Thomas Partey continues to deny all charges against him. He has cooperated with the police throughout. Given there are ongoing legal proceedings, there will be no further comment.”
Partey was first charged in July 2025, just four days after leaving Arsenal upon the expiration of his contract.
He previously appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on August 5 and was granted conditional bail. Two days later, he signed for Spanish top-flight side Villarreal as a free agent on a one-year contract, with an option for a further 12 months.
Partey made 167 appearances for Arsenal after joining from Atletico Madrid in a €50million (now £42.7m; $57.3m) transfer in October 2020. He has 53 caps for Ghana, including featuring at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
He has made 17 La Liga appearances for Villarreal this season, only seven of which have been starts. Villarreal face a trip to Alaves later on Friday.
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