Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has been charged with multiple counts of rape and sexual assault, according to court proceedings that began this week in London.
The 32-year-old appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on August 5, where he faced five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault involving three women. The alleged incidents span from April 2021 to June 2022 and took place both in the UK and abroad. Partey spoke only to confirm his name and address before being granted conditional bail. He is expected to appear next at the Old Bailey on September 2.
The breakdown of the charges indicates that two counts of rape relate to one woman, three counts to a second, and the sexual assault charge involves a third. Reports from multiple outlets the Guardian, and Sky Sports, confirm this timeline and the locations of the alleged offenses, including his former residence in London and a hotel in Marbella.
Partey had been under investigation for more than two years. He was first arrested in July 2022 and remained on bail while authorities examined the evidence. His contract with Arsenal expired on June 30, 2025. Days later, on July 4, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) filed charges. Partey, now a free agent, is currently in talks over a potential move to Villarreal. The timing of the charges means he enters free agency under a cloud of legal uncertainty.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta addressed the situation briefly, saying the club had “100% followed the right protocol.” Partey continued to play for the team while the investigation was ongoing, a decision that has since prompted backlash from advocacy groups and segments of the fan base.
Under Premier League regulations and UK labor laws, clubs face complex legal risk when suspending a player without formal charges. As of now, Partey denies all allegations. His legal team has not issued further public comment.
The case has reignited broader conversations around player accountability, institutional transparency, and how clubs respond to serious allegations against high-profile athletes. With a high-profile court date looming, football’s legal, moral, and cultural frameworks are once again being tested.
