Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London on 5 August, charged with multiple counts of rape and sexual assault committed during his time with the Premier League club.
The 32-year-old Ghanaian international is facing five charges of rape involving two women, as well as a separate charge of sexual assault against a third woman. The alleged offences took place between April 2021 and June 2022.
Partey, dressed in black, sat in the dock during a brief court hearing. He was not required to enter any pleas. The case is scheduled to be heard next at the Old Bailey on 2 September.
British media reports suggest Partey is close to completing a free transfer to Spanish side Villarreal after leaving Arsenal. He joined the North London club from Atletico Madrid in 2020 for a fee of 50 million euros and quickly became a key figure in Mikel Arteta’s midfield.
He was initially arrested in July 2022 but was not named at the time, and continued to play for Arsenal while police investigations continued.
