Quick Read
- Villarreal midfielder Thomas Partey has been charged with two additional counts of rape in England.
- These new charges relate to alleged non-recent offences from 2020, involving a fourth woman.
- Partey now faces allegations from four women, including previous charges for five counts of rape and one sexual assault.
- He is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on March 13, 2026, for the new charges.
- A trial for his earlier allegations is set for November 2, 2026.
LONDON (Azat TV) – Ghanaian international footballer Thomas Partey, currently a midfielder for La Liga club Villarreal, has been charged with two additional counts of rape in England, escalating his legal challenges as he prepares for a trial on earlier allegations. These new charges, announced by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) on February 12, 2026, relate to alleged non-recent offences from 2020 involving a fourth woman, bringing the total number of individuals involved in the allegations against him to four. The development places renewed scrutiny on Partey’s career trajectory, particularly his transfer to Villarreal in 2025, which occurred after the initial charges but before these latest accusations surfaced publicly.
The 32-year-old Partey is already facing five counts of rape against two women and one count of sexual assault against a third, with these alleged incidents said to have taken place between 2021 and 2022. He pleaded not guilty to those initial charges at Southwark Crown Court in September 2025 and was granted conditional bail, which requires him to notify police of any international travel 24 hours in advance and prohibits him from contacting the complainants. The trial for these earlier allegations is scheduled to commence on November 2, 2026, under a High Court judge.
Thomas Partey’s Expanding Legal Battle
The two new charges stem from a separate investigation conducted by the Metropolitan Police, following allegations first reported in August 2025. According to a CPS spokesperson, these fresh counts pertain to a distinct report of non-recent offences that allegedly occurred in 2020. Partey is now summoned to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday, March 13, 2026, for a first hearing concerning these latest allegations. His lawyer, Jenny Wiltshire, has consistently stated that Partey ‘denies all the charges against him’ and welcomes ‘the opportunity to finally clear his name.’
Club Responses and Partey’s Legal Timeline
Partey’s move to Villarreal in the summer of 2025 followed the expiration of his contract with Arsenal. Notably, his transfer to the Spanish club was confirmed after he had already been charged with the initial five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault in July 2025. Villarreal has yet to issue a statement on the latest charges but previously maintained their employment of Partey, adhering to the principle of ‘innocent until proven guilty.’ However, the accumulation of charges has undeniably impacted the club’s international reputation, as noted by Yahoo Sports.
During his tenure at Arsenal, Partey was a regular starter, making 130 Premier League appearances after joining from Atletico Madrid in October 2020 for £45.3 million. The Metropolitan Police’s initial investigation into the player began in February 2022. Honor Barber, co-founder of an Arsenal supporters’ group, strongly criticized the London club’s decision to continue playing Partey ‘week in, week out’ despite being aware of the ongoing investigations. She emphasized that Arsenal’s management, including coach Mikel Arteta, sent a problematic message by continuing to field him, demanding greater transparency regarding the club’s policies on players facing serious allegations.
Villarreal’s Position and Prior Arsenal Scrutiny
On the pitch, Partey’s performance at Villarreal has reportedly struggled, with Yahoo Sports describing his return to Spain as ‘miserable.’ He has made 21 appearances, starting 12, and has only completed three games. Following a half-time substitution in a 3-0 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen, Villarreal manager Marcelino Garcia Toral commented that it was ‘very difficult to play’ at Partey’s pace, though it was not immediately clear if this was linked to his off-field issues. Despite the mounting legal pressure and scrutiny, Partey remains out on conditional bail, with his footballing career continuing amidst the serious allegations. The unfolding legal process, involving multiple alleged victims and a complex timeline of events, ensures that Partey’s situation will remain a significant topic in both the legal and sporting worlds.
The timing of Partey’s transfer to Villarreal after initial charges, coupled with Arsenal’s decision to continue playing him despite an ongoing police investigation, highlights the complex ethical dilemmas football clubs face when players are accused of serious non-sporting offenses.