Former Arsenal F.C. midfielder Thomas Partey is expected to deny two new allegations of rape, a court has heard.
The 32-year-old footballer was charged last month with two counts of rape relating to an alleged incident involving a woman during a date in December 2020.
During proceedings at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday, Partey was not present as Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram handled the preliminary stage of the case.
The footballer had been excused from attending the hearing, but his lawyer, Emma Fenn, told the court that he intends to plead not guilty to both charges.
Partey had previously been charged with five counts of rape involving two women and one count of sexual assault relating to a third alleged victim, following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police Service.
He has already entered not-guilty pleas to those allegations, which date back to 2021 and 2022, and is due to face trial later this year.
Prosecutor Arabella MacDonald told the court that the two new allegations surfaced after the earlier charges had become public.
“Mr Partey faces two further charges of rape dating back to December 2020,” she said, adding that the complainant came forward after media coverage of the initial allegations.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Ikram transferred the new charges, involving a fourth alleged victim, to Southwark Crown Courtfor a hearing scheduled for April 10.
In the latest case, the Ghanaian international — who currently plays for Villarreal CF — is accused of raping a woman twice in London on a day in December 2020.
Partey previously joined Arsenal F.C. from Atlético Madrid in 2020 in a deal reportedly worth around £45 million before leaving the club last year to join Villarreal.
The midfielder has also made more than 50 appearances for the Ghana national football team, including appearances at the FIFA World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations.
He was released on bail with conditions that he must not contact the alleged victim and is expected to appear at the next court hearing in April.
