Thomas Partey Denies New Rape Allegations

Ex-Arsenal footballer Thomas Partey has denied two new allegations of rape. The 32-year-old midfielder appeared at Southwark Crown Court to plead not guilty to twice raping a woman in London in December 2020. He was previously charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault in July last year, which he also denied. The new allegations were announced in February, and Judge Tony Baumgartner has agreed to try all the allegations together. Partey now faces a total of seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, relating to four different women. The trial, initially set for November, may be delayed until January next year. Partey, who joined Arsenal from Atletico Madrid in 2020 and left for Villarreal last summer, is expected to play for Ghana in the World Cup this summer. He is currently on bail and is not allowed to contact the alleged victims. A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for May 14, and a decision on the trial date will be made once the judge is confirmed.