On Monday, April 13, 2026, Thomas Partey, the 32-year-old Ghanaian professional footballer currently playing as a defensive midfielder for the Spanish La Liga club Villarreal, made an appearance at Southwark Crown Court in London.
During the hearing, he formally entered pleas of not guilty to two additional counts of rape. These fresh allegations stem from a single day in December 2020 and involve an incident said to have taken place in the capital city.
This latest development adds to an already complex legal situation for the former Arsenal player. He now stands accused in total of seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, with the charges relating to four different women altogether.
The original set of allegations, which include five counts of rape and one of sexual assault, date back to incidents reportedly occurring between 2021 and 2022 and involve three complainants. Partey had previously denied all of those charges as well, maintaining his innocence throughout the process.
The two new rape charges were brought forward following further investigation by the Metropolitan Police, with one report noting that the fourth complainant came forward after the initial matters became public knowledge.
At the Southwark Crown Court session on this Monday, Partey appeared in person to address the updated indictment. His legal team has consistently emphasized his full cooperation with authorities from the outset, including compliance with police inquiries and adherence to bail conditions that allow him to continue his professional football career while restricting contact with the alleged victims and requiring advance notice for international travel.
Partey, who joined Villarreal on a free transfer in the summer of 2025 after his long stint at Arsenal came to an end, was notably absent from the matchday squad for Villarreal’s recent La Liga fixture against Athletic Club, though this was not directly linked in reports to the court proceedings themselves.
His contract with the Yellow Submarine runs until the end of the 2025/26 season, and he has featured intermittently for the club amid what has been described by some observers as a challenging adaptation period following his move to Spain.
The court hearing on April 13 served primarily to record the not guilty pleas to the additional charges. As a result of these new counts being incorporated, the overall trial timeline—originally slated for November 2026 at the same Southwark Crown Court venue—may now face adjustments, with some indications suggesting a possible shift into early 2027 to accommodate the expanded case.
Legal representatives for Partey have indicated that no further public statements will be made on the matter while proceedings continue, underscoring a focus on allowing the judicial process to unfold without external commentary.
Throughout the case, Partey has maintained a stance of complete denial regarding all accusations leveled against him. His defense has highlighted his ongoing cooperation with the Metropolitan Police investigation, positioning this as evidence of his commitment to addressing the claims transparently within the legal framework.
As the matter progresses toward trial, details remain limited due to reporting restrictions common in such sensitive cases, and the presumption of innocence continues to apply until any potential verdict is reached.
This situation has drawn significant attention in both football circles and the broader media, given Partey’s prominent career trajectory—from his early days rising through the ranks in Spain with Atlético Madrid, to his high-profile years at Arsenal where he became a key figure in midfield, and now his current chapter with Villarreal and continued involvement with the Ghana national team, the Black Stars.
