Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey faces two additional rape charges, according to court proceedings on Friday. The Ghana international intends to plead not guilty to the new allegations, his lawyer told Westminster Magistrates' Court. The charges bring the total number of rape allegations against the 31-year-old to five counts.
The latest developments follow initial rape charges that emerged just days after Partey left Arsenal last summer to join Spanish club Villarreal. Al Jazeera reports that the midfielder had already been facing legal proceedings when he departed the Premier League club. His transfer to Spain came amid the ongoing investigation that has now expanded significantly.
Sky Sports reports that prosecutor Arabella MacDonald told the court the two new allegations of rape date back to December 2020. According to the BBC, the charges involve a new alleged victim, separate from previous accusations against the footballer. The timing places the alleged incidents during Partey's tenure at Arsenal, where he played from 2020 to 2024.
Partey was absent from Friday's hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court, with his legal team representing him in proceedings. The Athletic reports he indicated through his lawyers that he is likely to plead not guilty when the case transfers to crown court next month. The Washington Post confirms his attorney informed the London court of his client's intention to deny all charges.
The prosecutor revealed that the additional allegations came to light after the first set of charges had been revealed, according to Sky Sports coverage of the court proceedings. Newsweek reports that the Metropolitan Police investigation has been ongoing for approximately two and a half years. The case has involved extensive inquiries spanning multiple alleged incidents and victims.
The legal proceedings mark a dramatic turn for a player who was once valued at over £45 million when Arsenal signed him from Atlético Madrid in 2020. Partey made 129 appearances for the Gunners during his four-year stint in North London. His summer transfer to Villarreal was completed as the initial charges became public knowledge.
The case will now proceed to crown court, where more serious criminal matters are typically handled in the English legal system. The transfer represents the next significant phase in legal proceedings that have cast a shadow over Partey's professional career and raised questions about his future in football.