Ex-Arsenal player Thomas Partey to face rape charges in UK April 10

Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey will, on April 10, 2026, appear at the Westminster Magistrates’ Court in England to defend himself against two new allegations of raping a woman in London in December 2020.

The court fixed the date after excusing the 32-year-old Ghanaian from appearing at the preliminary hearing for the new charges on Friday and released him on bail, on the condition that he does not contact the alleged victim.

At the preliminary stages of the case presided over by Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram, the prosecutor, Arabella MacDonald, told the court that, “Mr Partey faces two further charges of rape dating back to December 2020. The complainant came forward after news of Mr Partey’s other matters were widely publicised.”

Judge Ikram, therefore, transferred the new rape charges, filed in February, to the crown court for hearing on April 10. The player’s barrister, Emma Fenn, however, claims that the Villarreal of Spain player intends to plead ‘not guilty’.

According to a Metropolitan Police investigation, the former Atletico Madrid player is also facing five counts of rape involving two women and sexual assault against another victim.

While he had already pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the counts dating back to 2021 and 2022, the trial for this older case is set for November at Southwark Crown Court.