London.– Ghanaian footballer
Thomas Partey, former player for
Arsenal and
Atlético de Madrid, was placed on
probation this Tuesday after appearing before the
Westminster Magistrates' Court, in London. Partey faces
five counts of rape and one of sexual assault, filed by
three women, for events that allegedly occurred between
2021 and 2022.
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The 32-year-old midfielder, who did not make any statements during the hearing, will be
tried on September 2 at the
Old Bailey, the main criminal court in England and Wales. As part of the conditions of his release,
he will not be able to have direct or indirect contact with the complainants.
Multiple accusations and public reaction
According to what was presented before the court,
one of the victims accuses Partey of two counts of rape, another of
three similar counts, and the third woman points him out for
sexual assault. The footballer has
flatly denied all the accusations.
The investigation has been ongoing for
more than two and a half years, although the complaint was made public only on
July 4, 2025, four days after the end of his contract with Arsenal.
Controversy in Villarreal over possible signing
In the midst of this legal situation,
Partey has recently been linked with a possible signing by Villarreal CF, pending a favorable resolution of his case. However, the possibility of his incorporation has generated
rejection among a significant part of the Spanish club's fans, who have actively expressed their opposition to his hiring on social media.
Partey was signed by Arsenal in 2020 after a
50 million euro deal with Atletico Madrid, and has since been a regular starter with the "Gunners". He has also been an international player for the Ghana national team in multiple international tournaments.
The legal process will continue next month, when the player appears before the criminal court to face the formal charges.
Spanish
