By Kwame Bediako
Black Stars Midfielder, Thomas Partey has been hit with two new counts of rape, escalating his legal troubles.
The 32-year-old Ghanaian star, already denying five counts of rape and one sexual assault from earlier charges, will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday, March 13, to address the fresh allegations authorized by the Crown Prosecution Service.
This development comes as Partey prepares for a trial set to begin on November 2 at Southwark Crown Court.
The original charges stem from alleged offenses between 2021 and 2022, when Partey was a key player in Arsenal’s Premier League squad.
He pleaded not guilty to those five rape counts and one sexual assault during his appearance at Southwark Crown Court in September last year.
Prosecutors charged him just four days after his Arsenal contract expired at the end of June, marking the end of his time as a first-team regular in north London.
Now with La Liga side Villarreal, Partey remains on bail with conditions that allow him to continue playing football. He must notify police 24 hours in advance of any international travel and is barred from contacting the complainants.
Despite the ongoing case, these restrictions have not sidelined him from the pitch. Partey’s prominence extends to the international stage, where he stays a vital asset for Ghana’s Black Stars.
The team faces England in the World Cup group stages in the United States on June 23, adding layers of scrutiny to his situation as global attention builds ahead of the tournament.
