Ghanaian footballer Thomas Partey has been granted conditional bail after appearing before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, where he faces six criminal charges, including five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.
The 32-year-old former Arsenal midfielder is accused of committing the offences between 2021 and 2022 while playing for the Premier League club. The charges involve three women: two alleging rape and one alleging sexual assault.
Partey, who recently left Arsenal after his contract expired in June, is reportedly close to finalizing a move to Spanish side Villarreal.
During his court appearance, Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring acknowledged that Partey “is no longer employed in this country and is now playing in Spain.”
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) disclosed that the footballer is alleged to have raped one woman twice, another woman three times, and sexually assaulted a third.
These charges stem from a police investigation that began in February 2022, following the initial complaint.
Partey appeared in court wearing a black zip-neck jumper and remained silent throughout the proceedings.
His bail conditions bar him from contacting any of the complainants and require him to inform police of any address change or travel plans outside the UK.
His legal representative, Jenny Wiltshire, told the court that Partey “strongly denies all the allegations” and is eager to clear his name.
The case is expected to be transferred to the Old Bailey, with the next hearing scheduled for September 2.
