Ex-Arsenal Star Granted Bail On Rape Charges In UK
Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey has been granted conditional bail after he was charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.
The alleged offences took place between 2021 and 2022 when he was playing for north Arsenal.
Partey left Arsenal at the end of the 2024-25 season after his contract expired, and he could not agree on a renewal with the club.
He was charged four days after leaving Arsenal when his contract expired at the end of June. His next appearance is at the Old Bailey on 2 September.
He appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, charged with five counts of rape against two women, and a charge of sexual assault against a third woman.
Partey denied all the charges leveled against him, and the case has now been transferred to a Crown Court for trial. He is next due in court at the Old Bailey on September 2.
His bail conditions state he cannot contact any of the three women and must notify police of any permanent changes of address or international travel.
The charges follow an investigation by detectives, which started in February 2022 after police first received a report of rape.
Prosecutor Jocelyn Ledward, KC confirmed that Partey was first arrested in July 2022 before he was released in August of the same year.
She said: “He’s charged with six sexual offences, five of rape, one of sexual assault. He was first arrested in relation to two of the charges on 4 July 2022 and released under investigation on 2 August 2023.
“He has attended during the course of the past three years three voluntary interviews. A postal requisition was sent on 4 July 2025 requiring his attendance today for a first appearance.
“Five of the offences, the charges of rape, are indictable only offences and the only possibility for this court is to send them to the crown court.
“The complainant attended Mr Partey’s address and he sexually assaulted her by lying on top of her, trying to kiss her and touching her all over her body over clothing without consent. She tried to push him off and after a couple of minutes he stopped.”
In July, Mikel Arteta defended Arsenal for the way the club handled the situation.
However, Arsenal Supporters Against Sexual Violence Group gathered outside the Court to protest the club’s alleged actions.
The group said in a statement: “While we recognise that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty, we would find any scenario in which a club was to continually select and promote a player under investigation for sexual offences deeply concerning.”
“This would give the suggestion that success on the pitch far outweighs respect for victims of sexual violence.”
Partey joined Arsenal in 2020 from Atletico Madrid in a deal worth £45m, he is now expected to finalise a move to Villarreal as a free agent.
Ex-Arsenal Star Granted Bail On Rape Charges In UK is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
