Thomas Partey Pleads Not Guilty to Rape and Sexual Assault Charges; Trial Set for November 2026
Ghanaian midfielder Thomas Partey has pleaded not guilty to multiple serious charges, including five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, during a court appearance in London this week. The 32-year-old, who now plays for Spanish side Villarreal, is set to stand trial on November 2, 2026.
According to the UK’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), the charges involve three separate women, with the alleged incidents said to have taken place between 2021 and 2022. Two counts of rape relate to one woman, three to another, and the sexual assault charge involves a third.
Partey appeared at Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday, September 16, where he formally denied all six charges. Dressed in black trousers, a zip-up jumper, and a blue jacket, he stood calmly in the courtroom as his plea was entered.
Just hours before the hearing, Partey had played in Villarreal’s Champions League match against Tottenham Hotspur, where he faced boos from sections of the crowd. The Spanish side lost the match 1–0.
Background of the Case
The Metropolitan Police first received a report relating to the case in February 2022. Partey was formally charged earlier this year, shortly after leaving Arsenal when his contract ended in June 2025.
Prior to his latest court appearance, Partey had been granted bail under strict conditions, including no contact with any of the alleged victims. He had initially appeared before Westminster Magistrates’ Court, and his plea hearing was originally scheduled for September 2 at the Old Bailey, but it was delayed without public explanation.
His legal team continues to assert his innocence. In a brief statement, Partey’s lawyer said:
“Mr. Partey denies all the charges against him and welcomes the opportunity to finally clear his name in court.”
Public and Club Reactions
Since signing with Villarreal on August 7, 2025, the midfielder’s move has stirred controversy. Some supporters of the Spanish club protested his arrival due to the nature of the allegations. However, the club has yet to make a formal statement regarding his legal situation.
Judge Acknowledges Delay in Trial Date
During Wednesday’s proceedings, Judge Christopher Hehir confirmed that the trial would not begin until November 2, 2026, over a year away. He acknowledged the unusually long wait, attributing it to a backlog of cases in the UK court system.
“I appreciate that is quite a long way in advance. As you may appreciate, the Crown Courts have a huge backlog of work, which means that trials do take a long time to come on,” the judge explained.
“Because you have bail, effectively you are sitting behind a queue of people in prison who are waiting to be tried.”
What Happens Next?
With the trial still over a year away, Thomas Partey will remain on bail, subject to conditions set by the court. It is unclear how his ongoing legal issues will impact his football career in the coming season, though the case is likely to remain under close scrutiny both in the UK and internationally
