Thomas Partey Pleads Not Guilty to Additional Rape Allegations

Ex-Arsenal footballer Thomas Partey has entered not guilty pleas to two fresh allegations of rape. The 32-year-old midfielder appeared in Southwark Crown Court on Monday, where he denied raping a woman in London on a specific day in December 2020. Partey, who transferred to Villarreal from Arsenal last summer, had previously been charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault in July last year, with the alleged incidents dating back to 2021 and 2022. He had already pleaded not guilty to these charges, with a trial scheduled for November this year. The two new rape allegations, announced in February, will now be tried together with the previous charges, as agreed upon by Judge Tony Baumgartner, the Recorder of Westminster. However, the judge warned that the trial may be postponed until January next year. In total, Partey has pleaded not guilty to seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, all related to allegations made by four different women. During the hearing, Partey, dressed in dark grey trousers, a black jumper, and smart black shoes, confirmed his name and entered the not guilty pleas. He left the courtroom with his charcoal grey suit jacket slung over his shoulder. Partey was not present at Westminster Magistrates' Court last month when the new charges were first brought before a judge, but his lawyer had indicated that he would plead not guilty. The Ghanaian midfielder, who previously resided in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, and joined Arsenal from Atletico Madrid in 2020 for approximately £45m, is expected to play for Ghana in the World Cup this summer. Partey is currently on bail, with the condition that he must not contact the alleged victims. The case is set to be heard in court again on May 14 for a pre-trial hearing, with the trial date to be determined once the judge has been confirmed.