Ghana international Thomas Partey is preparing to contest two additional rape allegations after fresh charges were introduced during court proceedings
Ghana international Thomas Partey is preparing to contest two additional rape allegations after fresh charges were introduced during court proceedings in the United Kingdom.
The new accusations deepen the legal troubles facing the 32-year-old midfielder, who is already awaiting trial over a series of earlier sexual offence allegations.
The latest charges relate to an alleged incident involving a woman in December 2020. Prosecutors filed two counts of rape against Partey in February 2026, adding to the five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault he was charged with last year in connection with separate complainants.
The matter came before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday, March 13, 2026, for a preliminary hearing. Partey did not attend the session in person.
Instead, his lawyer Emma Fenn appeared on his behalf and informed the court that the Ghanaian footballer intends to plead not guilty to the newly filed charges when he appears before a Crown Court next month.
According to the court schedule, Partey is expected to enter his plea at a Crown Court hearing on April 10, 2026.
During the proceedings, prosecutor Arabella MacDonald told the court that the complainant in the latest case approached authorities after media coverage of the earlier allegations became widely known.
The Villarreal midfielder has already denied the previous allegations, which prosecutors say occurred between 2021 and 2022 and involved different complainants.
Those earlier charges are expected to proceed to trial at Southwark Crown Court in November 2026, setting the stage for what could become one of the most closely watched criminal cases involving a professional footballer in the UK.
Following Friday’s hearing, the court granted Partey bail, with conditions that include a strict prohibition on contacting the alleged victim connected to the new charges.
Partey’s legal challenges come after a high-profile football career that has seen him play at the highest levels of European football. He joined Arsenal from Atlético Madrid in October 2020 in a transfer reportedly worth £45 million, before leaving the London club last year to join Spanish side Villarreal CF.
At the international level, Partey has been a key figure for Ghana’s Black Stars, earning more than 50 caps and representing the country at both the FIFA World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations.
COMMENTS