Former Arsenal player Partey granted bail on rape charges
Former Arsenal footballer Thomas Partey was granted conditional bail on Tuesday after appearing in a London court on rape and sexual assault charges.
The 32-year-old Ghana international has been charged with five counts of rape against two women and one count of sexual assault against a third woman.
ALSO READ: Prosecutors call for PSG's Achraf Hakimi to face rape trial
The alleged offences took place between 2021 and 2022, when he was an Arsenal player.
Partey was charged on July 4, four days after leaving the Gunners when his contract expired at the end of June.
The midfielder stood with his arms behind his back in the dock at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, wearing a black zip-neck jumper.
The footballer showed no reaction as the charges were read out and was not asked to enter any pleas.
Partey's lawyer Jenny Wiltshire previously said Partey 'denies all the charges against him', adding he welcomed 'the opportunity to finally clear his name'.
Under his bail conditions he cannot contact any of the three women and must notify police of any permanent changes of address or international travel.
Reports in recent days have linked Partey with a move to La Liga 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.'
Partey is due to appear at London's Old Bailey court on September 2.
A spokesperson for Arsenal Supporters Against Sexual Violence said the group was 'profoundly disappointed' in the London club over 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.'
Barber said the group wanted the club to publish their sexual violence policies, 'suspend anyone under investigation for sexual offences' and 'properly support the survivors'.
British police said they first received reports of an allegation of rape in February 2022.
Partey joined Arsenal for £45 million ($60 million) from Atletico Madrid in October 2020.
He appeared 52 times for the Gunners last season, scoring four goals. Overall he played 167 games for the club, scoring nine times.
Partey has also made 51 appearances for Ghana.
An Arsenal spokesman previously said: 'The player's contract ended on June 30. Due to ongoing legal proceedings the club is unable to comment on the case.'
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The Citizen
2 days ago
- The Citizen
Former Arsenal player Partey granted bail on rape charges
The alleged offences took place between 2021 and 2022, when he was an Arsenal player. Former Arsenal footballer Thomas Partey was granted conditional bail on Tuesday after appearing in a London court on rape and sexual assault charges. The 32-year-old Ghana international has been charged with five counts of rape against two women and one count of sexual assault against a third woman. ALSO READ: Prosecutors call for PSG's Achraf Hakimi to face rape trial The alleged offences took place between 2021 and 2022, when he was an Arsenal player. Partey was charged on July 4, four days after leaving the Gunners when his contract expired at the end of June. The midfielder stood with his arms behind his back in the dock at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, wearing a black zip-neck jumper. The footballer showed no reaction as the charges were read out and was not asked to enter any pleas. Partey's lawyer Jenny Wiltshire previously said Partey 'denies all the charges against him', adding he welcomed 'the opportunity to finally clear his name'. Under his bail conditions he cannot contact any of the three women and must notify police of any permanent changes of address or international travel. Reports in recent days have linked Partey with a move to La Liga 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.' Partey is due to appear at London's Old Bailey court on September 2. A spokesperson for Arsenal Supporters Against Sexual Violence said the group was 'profoundly disappointed' in the London club over 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.' Barber said the group wanted the club to publish their sexual violence policies, 'suspend anyone under investigation for sexual offences' and 'properly support the survivors'. British police said they first received reports of an allegation of rape in February 2022. Partey joined Arsenal for £45 million ($60 million) from Atletico Madrid in October 2020. He appeared 52 times for the Gunners last season, scoring four goals. Overall he played 167 games for the club, scoring nine times. Partey has also made 51 appearances for Ghana. An Arsenal spokesman previously said: 'The player's contract ended on June 30. Due to ongoing legal proceedings the club is unable to comment on the case.'
eNCA
3 days ago
- eNCA
Former Arsenal player Partey granted bail on rape charges
Former Arsenal footballer Thomas Partey was granted conditional bail on Tuesday after appearing in a London court on rape and sexual assault charges. The 32-year-old Ghana international has been charged with five counts of rape against two women and one count of sexual assault against a third woman. The alleged offences took place between 2021 and 2022, when he was an Arsenal player. Partey was charged on July 4, four days after leaving the Gunners when his contract expired at the end of June. The midfielder stood with his arms behind his back in the dock at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, wearing a black zip-neck jumper. The footballer showed no reaction as the charges were read out and was not asked to enter any pleas. Partey's lawyer Jenny Wiltshire previously said Partey "denies all the charges against him", adding he welcomed "the opportunity to finally clear his name". Under his bail conditions he cannot contact any of the three women and must notify police of any permanent changes of address or international travel. Reports in recent days have linked Partey with a move to La Liga 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." Partey is due to appear at London's Old Bailey court on September 2. A spokesperson for Arsenal Supporters Against Sexual Violence said the group was "profoundly disappointed" in the London club over 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." Barber said the group wanted the club to publish their sexual violence policies, "suspend anyone under investigation for sexual offences" and "properly support the survivors". British police said they first received reports of an allegation of rape in February 2022. Partey joined Arsenal for £45 million ($60 million) from Atletico Madrid in October 2020. He appeared 52 times for the Gunners last season, scoring four goals. Overall he played 167 games for the club, scoring nine times. Partey has also made 51 appearances for Ghana.
TimesLIVE
3 days ago
- TimesLIVE
Arsenal, Ghana player Partey in UK court charged with rape, sexual assault
Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey appeared in a London court on Tuesday, charged with raping two women while he was a player for the English Premier League soccer club. Partey, a Ghana international, is accused of five counts of rape relating to two women, plus a charge of sexual assault against a third woman, between April 2021 and June 2022. The 32-year-old sat in the dock at Westminster magistrate's court dressed in black during the brief hearing and spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address. Prosecutor Jocelyn Ledward said that two of the charges Partey faces relate to him allegedly anally raping one complainant during consensual sex on separate occasions. Three further charges relate to a second woman whom Partey is accused of raping on three occasions, twice in Britain and once in Spain. Thomas Partey has been granted conditional bail after appearing in court on rape and sexual assault charges. The five charges relate to three women and the offences are reported to have taken place between 2021 and 2022. Partey denies all the charges against him. — Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) August 5, 2025 He was not asked to enter pleas to any of the charges. Partey was granted bail ahead of his next court appearance at London's Old Bailey court on September 2. His lawyer previously said in a statement that Partey denies the charges and welcomes the opportunity to clear his name. Partey was signed by Arsenal from Atletico Madrid for €50m (R1bn) in 2020 and became a key member of the English side's first team, making 52 appearances in all competitions last season. He was first arrested in July 2022, though he was not named at the time and continued to play for Arsenal while investigations were ongoing. His contract with the Premier League club expired last month. British media have reported Partey is close to joining Spanish side Villarreal on a free transfer and Judge Paul Goldspring said during Tuesday's hearing that Partey would soon be moving to Spain.
