Thomas Partey Denies New Rape Allegations

Ex-Arsenal footballer Thomas Partey has entered not guilty pleas to two fresh allegations of rape. The 32-year-old midfielder, who now plays for Villarreal, appeared at Southwark Crown Court to deny the charges, which relate to an alleged incident in London in December 2020. Partey was previously charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, dating back to 2021 and 2022, and had already pleaded not guilty to those charges. A trial was initially set for November this year, but the addition of the two new allegations may cause a delay until January next year. In total, Partey has now denied seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, all relating to allegations made by four different women. The Ghanaian midfielder, who is expected to play for his country in the World Cup this summer, is currently on bail with the condition that he does not contact the alleged victims. The case is due to be listed in court again on May 14 for a pre-trial hearing, at which point a decision will be made on the exact trial date.