Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey entered not guilty pleas to five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault in an intense courtroom appearance just hours after stepping onto the pitch for Villarreal in a Champions League clash against Tottenham Hotspur.
On Wednesday, September 17, 2025 the 32 year old Ghana international, who came on as a substitute in Villarreal’s 1-0 defeat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Tuesday evening spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth, and denials to each charge during the brief hearing.
The allegations which stem from incidents reported between 2021 and 2022 during his time at Arsenal, prompted a Metropolitan Police investigation that began in February 2022, culminating in formal charges last July shortly after his contract with the Gunners expired.
Judge Christopher Hehir, acknowledging the UK’s crown court backlog, scheduled the full trial to commence on November 2, 2026, at the same venue, with proceedings expected to span 6-8 weeks.
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