Ghana international footballer Thomas Partey has pleaded not guilty to two new rape allegations, bringing the total number of charges against him to eight. The 32-year-old midfielder appeared at Southwark Crown Court in London on Monday, where he denied twice raping a woman in the English capital in December 2020.
The new accusations, announced in February, will be tried alongside previous charges. In July 2025, Partey was charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault relating to alleged incidents from 2021 and 2022. He has consistently denied all charges.
Judge Tony Baumgartner has agreed to consolidate all allegations for a single trial, which could be delayed until January 2027. In total, the former Arsenal player faces seven allegations of rape and one of sexual assault from four different women.
“Thomas Partey continues to deny all charges against him. He has cooperated with the police throughout,” his lawyer Jenny Wiltshire said on Monday.
Partey, who joined La Liga club Villarreal last summer, remains on bail while legal proceedings continue. His case is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing on 14 May, according to Sky Sports.
The Ghana midfielder is expected to feature in the upcoming FIFA World Cup starting in June, although a recent muscle injury has raised concerns about his availability. Partey’s participation in the tournament could be affected depending on the progress of both his recovery and legal case.
