By Kwame Bediako
Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey case on two new allegations of rape adjourned to April 10, 2026, as preliminary proceedings unfolded without the Ghanaian star’s presence.
The 32-year-old, now with Spanish club Villarreal, faces charges of raping a woman twice on a single day in London in December 2020.
At Westminster Magistrates’ Court, Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram handled initial stages after excusing Partey from attending.
His lawyer, Emma Fenn, confirmed his intention to deny both counts, while prosecutor Arabella MacDonald noted the complainant came forward following media coverage of Partey’s prior charges.
These new accusations involve a fourth alleged victim and emerged after Partey’s initial charges last year, five counts of rape against two women and one sexual assault against a third, all from 2021 and 2022.
Partey has already pleaded not guilty to those, with a trial set for November at Southwark Crown Court.
Judge Ikram adjourned the new charges to crown court for a hearing on April 10, 2026, sending them alongside the existing case. Partey, who joined Arsenal from Atletico Madrid in a £45m deal in 2020 before moving to Villarreal last June, was released on bail with strict conditions barring contact with the latest complainant.
The Black Stars stalwart, boasting over 50 caps including World Cup and AFCON appearances, is expected at the next hearing. No further comments have been issued from his camp as the legal saga continues.
