Ex-Arsenal star to deny rape charges, court hears

Former Arsenal footballer Thomas Partey is set to deny two new allegations of rape, a court has heard.

The 32-year-old was charged last month with two counts of raping a woman on a date in December 2020. It followed five other charges of rape and sexual assault against separate complainants last year.

Partey was excused from attending a preliminary hearing for the new charges at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday.

However, his barrister Emma Fenn indicated he intended to plead not guilty to both counts at a crown court hearing set for 10 April.

The Ghanaian midfielder, who plays for Spanish club Villarreal, was charged last year with five counts of rape against two women and sexual assault against a third alleged victim, following a Metropolitan Police investigation.

He has already entered not guilty pleas to all of those allegations, which date back to 2021 and 2022, and is due to face trial at Southwark Crown Court in November.

Arabella MacDonald, prosecuting, told the court: "The complainant came forward after news of Mr Partey's other matters were widely publicised."

Partey was released on bail on Friday, with a condition that he does not contact the alleged victim.

The footballer joined Arsenal from Atletico Madrid in 2020 in a transfer worth around £45m, before he left the club in June last year.

He has made more than 50 appearances for Ghana, including at the World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations.

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