Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey appeared at Southwark Crown Court on Monday, entering not‑guilty pleas to two fresh rape allegations. The 32‑year‑old denied raping a woman in London in December 2020, adding to earlier denials of five rape counts and one sexual‑assault charge from 2021‑22. He signed his name in a charcoal grey suit after missing a prior Westminster Magistrates’ hearing.

The new charges were filed in February, bringing the total to seven counts of rape and one sexual‑assault allegation involving four women. Partey, who left Arsenal for Villarreal last summer, remains on bail with a strict no‑contact order. A pre‑trial hearing is set for 14 May, though the judge warned the full trial may slip to January and could push scheduling further.

Despite the legal cloud, Ghana will likely field Partey at the World Cup, where he is expected to play a central midfield role. His 2020 transfer from Atletico Madrid to Arsenal cost about £45 million, and solid performances at Villarreal have kept him in England’s selection conversation. The unresolved case threatens his reputation and market value ahead of the tournament.