Thomas Partey Denies Latest Rape Allegations

Ex-Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has entered pleas of not guilty to two fresh allegations of rape. The 32-year-old athlete appeared in Southwark Crown Court on Monday, where he denied raping a woman in London on a specific day in December 2020. Partey, who made a move from Arsenal to Villarreal last summer, was previously charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault in July of the previous 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 of this year. The two new rape allegations, announced in February, will be tried together with the previous charges, as decided by Judge Tony Baumgartner, the Recorder of Westminster. However, the judge cautioned that the trial may be postponed until January of next year. In total, Partey has now 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 identity and entered his pleas. He was allowed to leave the courtroom wearing his charcoal grey suit jacket over his shoulder. Although Partey was absent from the Westminster Magistrates' Court when the charges were first presented, 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 a £45m transfer deal in 2020, is expected to play for the Ghana national team in the upcoming World Cup. 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, at which point a decision on the trial date will be made once the judge has been confirmed.