Embattled former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Party, has denied charges of rape, involving two women and the sexual assault of a third.

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‎The 32-year-old Ghanaian footballer pleaded not guilty to five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault at the Southwark Crown court on Wednesday.

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‎Partey appeared in court a day after playing in his side’s Villarreal 1-0 loss to Tottenham in London.

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‎During a short trial today, he only spoke to confirm his name and date of birth before pleading not guilty to each of the charges against him.

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‎Partey who currently plies his trade in Spain was accused of raping two women and sexually assaulting another, between 2021 and 2022 while representing Arsenal.

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‎He was charged just four days after leaving the club for Spanish side Villarreal, following the expiration of his contract in June, 2025. 

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‎The Black Star midfielder was granted bail on the conditions that he is not to contact any of the complainants and must give the police a 24-hour international travel notice or a notice of a permanent change of address. 

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‎According to Judge Christopher Hehir of Southwark Crown court, Partey is expected to appear in court for the commencement of his trial on November 2, 2026.

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“Your trial will take place at this court on November 2 of next year, 2026. I appreciate that it 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,” Mr Hehir told Partey. 

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‎Partey spent five seasons in England after securing a move away from Athletico Madrid to Arsenal in October 2020 in a deal worth around £45 million.

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‎He was fielded 167 times for the London club, finding the back of the net nine times.