Thomas Partey charged with two more counts of rape as court date set | Football | Sport

Former Arsenal player Thomas Partey has been charged with a further two counts of rape. Partey, 32, previously pleaded not guilty to five counts of rape and one charge of sexual assault at Southwark Crown Court last September. However, the midfielder, who plays for Spanish club Villarreal after leaving Arsenal last year, will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday, March 13 in relation to the fresh allegations.

The Crown Prosecution Service said in a statement: “These new charges relate to a separate report of non-recent offences in 2020 involving one additional woman and follow a new investigation by the Metropolitan Police. These allegations were first reported in August 2025.” The aforementioned five counts of rape and one charge of sexual assault are alleged to have taken place between 2021 and 2022. At the time, Partey was a regular for Arsenal.

The Ghanaian departed the Premier League club on June 30 upon the expiry of his contract. Four days later, he was charged.

Partey, who is currently on bail, is due to face trial in November. The former Atletico Madrid man has been permitted to continue playing football, including at international level with Ghana.

His country are due to face England at the World Cup this summer. The match will take place on Tuesday, June 23 in Boston.

Partey has featured in 21 matches since joining Villarreal on a free transfer. Five of these were in the Champions League before Marcelino’s team were knocked out, having finished second from bottom in the 36-team table, managing only a single point from eight fixtures.

Villarreal currently sit fourth in La Liga, seven points ahead of fifth place, but were ousted from the Copa del Rey in December.