By Dayo Ade Olusola M10News Sports Desk | 4 July 2025
Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has been charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, the Metropolitan Police confirmed on Thursday.
The 32-year-old Ghanaian international, who joined Arsenal in 2020 for £45 million from Atlético Madrid, faces allegations relating to incidents reported between 2021 and 2022.
In a statement, police said two of the rape charges relate to one woman, while three further rape charges involve a second woman.
The sexual assault charge concerns a third woman.
Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy, leading the investigation, urged anyone with information to come forward. “Our priority remains providing support to the women who have come forward,” Furphy said. “Anyone impacted by this case or with information can contact our team by emailing CIT@met.police.uk.”
Partey is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London on Tuesday, August 5.
The charges follow an investigation launched in February 2022 after police received the first report of rape.
Partey denies all allegations. His lawyer, Jenny Wiltshire, issued a statement saying: “Thomas Partey denies all the charges against him.
He has fully cooperated with the police and CPS throughout their three-year investigation. He now welcomes the opportunity to clear his name. Given that there are now ongoing legal proceedings, my client is unable to comment further.”
Partey’s contract with Arsenal expired on July 1, but the club have yet to make an official announcement regarding his departure. His profile remains listed on the club’s website, and replica shirts with his name were still available for purchase as of Thursday.
The midfielder has been linked with summer transfers to Barcelona and Juventus after contract extension talks with Arsenal reportedly broke down.
During his five seasons at Arsenal, Partey made 167 appearances, playing 52 times last season as the Gunners finished second in the Premier League and reached the UEFA Champions League semi-finals.
Campaigners protested at several Arsenal home matches last season, criticising the club’s decision to continue fielding Partey despite the ongoing police investigation.
The Arsenal Supporters Against Sexual Violence group said: “While we recognise that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty, we would find any scenario in which a club was to continually select and promote a player under investigation for sexual offences deeply concerning. This suggests success on the pitch outweighs respect for victims of sexual violence.”
Dino Nocivelli, a solicitor at law firm Leigh Day who has worked on high-profile abuse cases in sport, told the Daily Telegraph: “The fact that the defendant has been able to continue his working life is wrong and sends the wrong message for such serious allegations as rape and sexual assault.
The player should have been suspended while the club and the Football Association investigated the allegations, with no prospect of resuming his work until those investigations were concluded.”
Before his Arsenal career, Partey spent several seasons at Atlético Madrid, also playing on loan for Mallorca and Almería in Spain.
