Ex-Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey to face new rape charges in UK court April 10

Former Arsenal F.C. midfielder Thomas Partey is scheduled to appear before a UK court on April 10, 2026, to answer fresh rape allegations linked to an incident that reportedly occurred in London in December 2020.

The 32-year-old Ghanaian international is expected to appear at the Westminster Magistrates’ Court in England after prosecutors filed two additional charges against him earlier this year.

At a preliminary hearing on Friday, the court excused Partey from appearing in person and granted him bail. As part of the bail conditions, he was ordered not to contact the alleged victim.

Prosecutor Arabella MacDonald told the court that the latest allegations surfaced after earlier claims against the footballer became widely known.

“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,” MacDonald said during the hearing.

Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram, who presided over the proceedings, subsequently transferred the case to the Crown Court for a full hearing.

Multiple allegations under investigation

According to investigators from the Metropolitan Police, the former Atlético Madrid midfielder is already facing five counts of rape involving two women, as well as one count of sexual assault involving another complainant.

Partey has previously pleaded not guilty to the earlier charges, which relate to alleged incidents that occurred between 2021 and 2022.

The trial for those allegations is scheduled to begin in November at the Southwark Crown Court.

During the recent hearing, the player’s barrister, Emma Fenn, indicated that Partey also intends to plead not guilty to the newly filed charges.

Partey rose to prominence during his time at Atlético Madrid before completing a high-profile transfer to Arsenal in 2020, where he became a key figure in the club’s midfield.

The Ghanaian international has earned multiple caps for the Ghana national football team and was regarded as one of Africa’s top midfielders during his peak years in European football.

The upcoming court proceedings are expected to determine whether the latest charges will proceed to a full trial alongside the earlier allegations.

Legal experts say the April hearing will likely focus on case management issues and whether the new accusations will be consolidated with the existing charges already scheduled for trial later this year.

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