Thomas Partey pleads not guilty to rape and sexual assault

London.- Villarreal footballer Thomas Partey pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to the charges of rape and sexual assault accused by three women. The African footballer - who remains on parole, allowing him to continue playing - was accused in July of five counts of rape by two women and one of sexual assault by a third.

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After playing in the Champions League against Tottenham Hotspur this Tuesday, Partey appeared this Wednesday morning at Southwark Crown Court, in south London, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. The trial date has been set for November 2nd. Partey, 32, played for Arsenal until June, when his contract with the London club ended after failing to reach an agreement for its renewal. Already as a free agent, he signed for Villarreal four days after being accused of these crimes. The alleged crimes committed by the footballer occurred between 2021 and 2022, when he played for Arsenal. The player denied all charges. In the match against Tottenham, the 'Spurs' fans booed him repeatedly, both during the warm-up and when he came onto the field and every time he touched the ball, due to his past at Arsenal and these accusations. The stands sang to him "We know who you are", in reference to the period in which it was 'vox populi' that a Premier League footballer was being investigated for these charges and everything pointed to Partey.