
Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey granted conditional bail
The alleged offences took place between 2021 and 2022, when he was an Arsenal player.
Court artist drawing of Thomas Partey in the dock at London's Westminster Magistrates' Court (Elizabeth Cook/PA)
Partey stood with his arms behind his back in the dock at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, wearing a black zip-neck jumper.
The footballer, who gave his address as Potters Bar, showed no reaction as the charges were read out and was not asked to enter any pleas.
The alleged offences include incidents of anal rape, the court heard.
His bail conditions include that he cannot contact any of the three women and must notify police of any permanent changes of address or international travel.
It comes amid reports that Partey is set to join Spanish club Villarreal.
As bail conditions were discussed in court, Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring said: 'I understand he's no longer employed in this country and playing in Spain now.'
Thomas Partey left Arsenal when his contract expired at the end of June (PA)
Partey is due to appear at the Old Bailey on September 2.
He was charged four days after leaving Arsenal when his contract expired at the end of June
A spokeswoman for Arsenal Supporters Against Sexual Violence said they were 'profoundly disappointed' in the north London club for their handling of the matter.
Speaking outside court, Honor Barber told the PA news agency: 'We never wanted to be in a situation where the club that we love and the club that has values that we believe in was playing, week-in week-out, a player who is now facing court appearances on six counts of sexual violence.
'We protested outside almost every home game last season because we wanted to disrupt the wall of silence that the club has put up around this issue, and we did that because we want to support our club and feel happy and comfortable supporting our club.'
Members of the group held a banner which read 'Arsenal said: 'We do the right thing' then did nothing'.
People from Arsenal Supporters Against Sexual Violence held a banner outside the court (Yui Mok/PA)
Barber said the group wanted Arsenal to publish their sexual violence policies, 'suspend anyone under investigation for sexual offences' and 'properly support the survivors'.
The Metropolitan Police said it first received reports of an allegation of rape in February 2022.
Partey's lawyer Jenny Wiltshire previously said he 'denies all the charges against him', adding he welcomed 'the opportunity to finally clear his name'.
He joined Arsenal from Atletico Madrid in 2020 in a transfer worth around £45million.
The defensive midfielder signed for the Spanish club in 2012 and made 188 appearances, as well as going out on loan to Mallorca and Leganes.
He played 35 games for the north London club in the Premier League last season, scoring four goals.
Partey has also made more than 50 appearances for Ghana including at the World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations.
An Arsenal spokesperson previously said: 'The player's contract ended on June 30. Due to ongoing legal proceedings the club is unable to comment on the case.'
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Herald Scotland
2 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Thursday's briefing: Son completes MLS move and Man Utd close in on Sesko
Troubled Sheffield Wednesday are up for sale on the eve of the new Sky Bet Championship. Son: LAFC switch 'not my first choice' A new era begins in Black & Gold. — LAFC (@LAFC) August 6, 2025 Son Heung-min admitted Los Angeles FC were not his first choice destination after he ended a 10-year stay at Tottenham, but insisted they had 'changed his heart' on a record Major League Soccer transfer. The 33-year-old on Wednesday completed a move worth in excess of £20million – the highest transfer fee paid by an MLS club – after it was revealed on Saturday he would be leaving Spurs following 173 goals in 454 appearances and months after he captained the club to Europa League glory. At an introductory press conference in Los Angeles, the South Korea international admitted he had to be persuaded of the merits of moving to the United States before signing an initial two-year deal. 'They've been absolutely working so hard to get me here to join LAFC,' Son said. 'If I'm honest, it was not my first choice but John (Thorrington, LAFC general manager) was the first call when the season finished and John changed my mind, he changed my heart.' United confident on Sesko deal Manchester United believe Benjamin Sesko favours them over a move to Newcastle (Andrew Milligan/PA) Manchester United believe Benjamin Sesko favours a move to Old Trafford over Newcastle as they look to strike a deal with RB Leipzig for the Slovenia forward. The 22-year-old striker has been the subject of a tug of a war as the Premier League sides attempt to bolster their attacks ahead of the new season. Newcastle made the first move and their second bid for the striker was worth a reported 82.5million euros (£71.9m) plus add-ons. United have followed with a lower offer of 75m euros (£65.4m), plus a potential 10m euros (£8.7m) in add-ons, but PA understands United believe Sesko favours them. The Slovenia international, who scored 21 goals in 45 appearances in all competitions last term, has long been on the Red Devils' radar, stretching back to when he moved from Domzale to RB Salzburg in 2019, and they have made him their priority in the search for a new striker. Isak trains alone as uncertainty continues Alexander Isak arrived to train alone after his Newcastle team-mates had gone home on Wednesday (Owen Humphreys/PA) As Newcastle face the prospect of disappointment in their pursuit of Sesko, the future of their current star striker Alexander Isak is no clearer, with the Sweden international only reporting for training on Wednesday after the rest of Eddie Howe's squad had gone home. Isak, 25, did not join Newcastle's pre-season trip to Singapore and South Korea, and had recently been training at former club Real Sociedad as Liverpool saw a bid worth £110million rejected by the Magpies. Howe's players were back in training on Wednesday after two days off with their families invited to join them later in the day, but PA understands Isak, who reported back to their Benton base on Monday, was told not to come in until after they left. The £63million frontman has been a huge hit since his arrival from Sociedad during the summer of 2022 and played a key role last season as they ended their 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy with the Carabao Cup and qualified for the Champions League for the second time in three seasons. EFL in talks with Chansiri over Wednesday sale Sheffield Wednesday are up for sale on the eve of the new season (Cody Froggatt/PA) The English Football League is in 'advanced discussions' with Sheffield Wednesday owner Dejphon Chansiri over the sale of the troubled club on the eve of the new season. The crisis-hit Owls are under various EFL-imposed embargoes for financial breaches and failed to pay salaries on time for the third consecutive month in July, with players refusing to play in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Burnley last Saturday. While the players have said they will play in Sunday's opening Sky Bet Championship fixture at Leicester, the EFL is now working with Chansiri to find new ownership. 'The League wants to see a strong, stable and competitive Sheffield Wednesday, and for that to happen we are clear that the current owner needs either to fund the club to meet its obligations or make good on his commitment to sell to a well-funded party, for fair market value – ending the current uncertainty and impasse,' the governing body said. What's on today? Several clubs are in action in the qualifying round of the Europa Conference League, with Hibs away to Partizan and Dundee United travelling to Rapid Vienna. Linfield are away to Vikingur and Larne host Santa Clara. In League One, Port Vale host Cardiff.


Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Arsenal transfer news: Eberechi Eze warning sent as Mikel Arteta questioned over deal
Arsenal have enjoyed a busy summer so far, making six new signings, and Mikel Arteta is keen to continue strengthening his squad ahead of the new Premier League season Arsenal have spent almost £200million on new signings so far this summer, bringing in Viktor Gyokeres, Martin Zubimendi, Noni Madueke, Cristhian Mosquera, Christian Norgaard and Kepa Arrizabalaga. However, manager Mikel Arteta is hoping to make some more signings before the window slams shut. He is also looking to offload some fringe players, having already sold Nuno Tavares and Marquinhos and released Jorginho, Kieran Tierney, Thomas Partey and Takehiro Tomiyasu. The Gunners have finished second for the past three Premier League season and will be hoping to win the title this year for the first time since 2004. Here, Mirror Football takes a look at the latest transfer news and rumours from around the Emirates... Juventus eye Kiwior According to a report from Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport, Juventus are interested in signing Arsenal defender Jakub Kiwior. The report states that Lloyd Kelly, who completed a permanent move to Juventus this summer after initially joining them on loan in the January transfer window, could be set for a return to the Premier League. As a result, Juventus are said to have begun looking at potential replacements for Kelly and Kiwior is among them. However, the report also notes that Wolfsburg's Konstantinos Koulierakis is also on their radar. Eze warning Eberechi Eze has been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal this summer, but former Gunners defender Mikael Silvestre believes he should remain at Crystal Palace. Speaking to Hajper, Silvestre said: "Eberechi Eze to Arsenal? I don't think it'd be good for him, to be honest, because there is a lot of competition and because he has so much joy and freedom at Crystal Palace. "Going to Arsenal would, I think, be difficult because of the competition for places. But I like him a lot. Since his early days, he has been terrific. It's a shame he's had quite a lot of muscle injuries and he's missed some parts of the season. But whenever he's fit and ready, he is a top player." Gyokeres doubts Arsenal forked out around £63.7m to sign a new striker in Viktor Gyokeres this summer, but Premier League icon Paul Scholes has questioned whether Mikel Arteta "really wanted him". Speaking on The Overlap Fan Debate, brought to you by Sky Bet, Scholes said: "[Arsenal needed a] centre forward, I just wonder if you've chosen the right one. Because there was a lot of um-ing and ah-ing about it, I wondered if Mikel Arteta really wanted him, as the main one he wants? I'm not too sure, and he's got him now."

Leader Live
4 hours ago
- Leader Live
Alexander Isak reports for Newcastle training after rest of squad leave
The 25-year-old Sweden international did not travel with his team-mates on their pre-season trip to Singapore and South Korea, ostensibly because of a minor thigh injury, after Liverpool, who subsequently tabled a £110million bid for him, let it be known they remained interested in acquiring his services. Isak, who later informed the club he wanted to explore his options this summer, instead flew to Spain to train at former club Real Sociedad and returned to Tyneside at the weekend, shortly before head coach Eddie Howe and his squad landed back from Seoul and were given two days off. The players were back at the training ground on Wednesday morning and their families were invited to join them after training. However, the PA news agency understands Isak, who reported back to the club's Benton base on Monday, was told not to come in until after they had left and was pictured arriving at around 1550. The £63million frontman has been a huge hit since his arrival from Sociedad during the summer of 2022 and played a key role last season as they ended their 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy with the Carabao Cup and qualified for the Champions League for the second time in three seasons. However questioned about his absence in South Korea, Howe signalled that his actions might have repercussions. The 47-year-old told reporters: 'You have to earn the right to train with us. We are Newcastle United. 'The player has a responsibility here to be part of a team and part of a squad – you have to act in the right way. So that is also at play here. 'We will make sure that any player earns the right to train with the group. No player can expect to act poorly and train with the group as normal.' Isak is understood to have undergone treatment and light training at a deserted training ground on Monday and it remains to be seen whether he will have any involvement in the club's pre-season fixtures against Espanyol and Atletico Madrid this weekend. The striker faces clear-the-air talks with Howe, with his situation becoming seemingly more complicated by the day as a difficult transfer window threatens to spiral further out of control. Newcastle tabled an improved club record bid for RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko on Monday in an effort to beat Manchester United to the punch, but developments since suggest the 22-year-old is more likely to head for Old Trafford than St James' Park. That would represent the latest blow in a transfer window which has already seen the Magpies miss out on major targets Dean Huijsen, Bryan Mbeumo, Hugo Ekitike, Joao Pedro, James Trafford and Liam Delap. They have managed to recruit Nottingham Forest wide man Anthony Elanga and, on loan, Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, but with frontman Callum Wilson and midfielder Sean Longstaff having left, there is significant work to be done, with the start of the new season just 10 days away. Howe was already looking for a striker before the Isak situation came to a head and, with three years remaining on the Swede's current deal – he has so far resisted the club's overtures to sign a new contract – there seems to be little prospect of the club allowing him to leave either before they have secured a replacement or for much less than their £150m valuation, having already rebuffed Liverpool's initial approach. Meanwhile, sources on Tyneside have played down suggestions that Newcastle have tabled a bid for AC Milan defender Malick Thiaw, but it is understood they are maintaining an interest in the Germany international.