Thomas Partey will stand trial at Southwark Crown Court next year after pleading not guilty to six charges linked to alleged sexual offences.
The 32-year-old midfielder, who joined Villarreal following his Arsenal exit in the summer, appeared in court on Wednesday morning. He spoke briefly to confirm his name, date of birth, and not guilty pleas.
Details of the Charges
According to the Metropolitan Police, Partey faces:
- Two counts of forced coupling involving one woman
- Three counts of non-consensual acts with a second woman
- One count of sexual assault against a third woman
The alleged offences are said to have taken place between 2021 and 2022.
Judge reveals why Partey’s trial begins next year
Judge Christopher Hehir confirmed that the trial is scheduled for November 2, 2026, more than a year away. He explained the delay was due to the Crown Court’s backlog of cases.
“Your trial will take place at this court on November 2 of next year, 2026. I appreciate that is quite a long way in advance.
“As you may appreciate the crown courts have a huge backlog of work, which means that trials do take a long time to come on. Because you have bail effectively, you are sitting behind a queue of people in prison who are waiting to be tried,” Judge Hehir said, as quoted by Football London.
Partey remains on bail under strict conditions. He is barred from contacting the three women involved, must report any change of permanent address, and must notify police of any international travel plans.
Return to the pitch amid legal troubles
Less than 24 hours before his court appearance, Partey featured in Villarreal’s UEFA Champions League clash with Tottenham at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Brought on in the second half, the midfielder was met with boos and hostile chants from sections of the crowd: “Thomas Partey, we know what you are.”
Despite the reception, he managed to complete six of nine passes, create one chance, and register nine touches in just over ten minutes. Flashscore rated his cameo at 6.2
With his trial still months away, Partey will now shift focus back to Villarreal’s campaign as he continues to fight the allegations off the pitch.