Thomas Partey, the Ghanaian midfielder who spent five years at Arsenal, appeared at Southwark Crown Court on Monday charged with two counts of rape.
Former Arsenal footballer Thomas Partey has pleaded not guilty to two new rape charges.
The 32-year-old midfielder appeared at Southwark Crown Court on Monday, denying raping the woman twice in London one day in December 2020.
The star player, who joined Villarreal from Arsenal last summer, was charged in July last year with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault dating back to 2021 and 2022.
He had previously pleaded not guilty to the charges and a trial was scheduled for November of this year.
The former Arsenal midfielder appeared at Southwark Crown Court on Monday (Image: Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)
The two new rape charges were announced in February, and on Monday, Westminster Recorder Judge Tony Baumgartner agreed to hear all charges together.
But he warned the parties and their lawyers that the trial could be delayed until January next year.
The footballer has now pleaded not guilty to a total of seven charges of rape and one charge of sexual assault relating to allegations from four different women.
Wearing dark gray trousers, a black jumper over a white shirt and smart black shoes, Partey spoke at Monday’s hearing to identify himself and enter two pleas of not guilty.
He left the dock with his charcoal gray suit jacket slung over his left shoulder.
Mr Partey was absent from Westminster Magistrates Court last month when he appeared before a judge for the first time.
Photo of the party outside the court
However, his lawyer indicated that a not guilty plea would be entered.
The Ghanaian midfielder, who previously lived in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, joined Arsenal from Atletico Madrid in 2020 for a fee of around £45 million before leaving the club in June last year.
He is expected to be part of the Ghana squad that will play against England at this summer’s World Cup.
Mr Partey is out on bail pending legal proceedings, with the condition that he not have contact with the alleged victims.
The court heard that Justice Bennathan is expected to become a judge.
Partey’s case is next scheduled to be listed in court May 14 for a pretrial hearing.
Once a judge is confirmed, a decision will be made on the exact trial date.
