Thomas Partey Responds in Court, Denies Serious Charges Brought Against Him
- Thomas Partey entered his plea during his second court appearance in the United Kingdom as his legal case continues
- Just hours before showing up at the Southwark Crown Court, the Ghanaian midfielder featured for Villarreal in their Champions League opener
- His focus now shifts back to domestic football, with Villarreal preparing to take on Osasuna in La Liga on Saturday, September 20
Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey has denied the serious charges levelled against him.
On Wednesday, September 17, Partey appeared at Southwark Crown Court and pleaded not guilty to five counts of non-consensual acts and one charge of sexual assault.
Source: Getty Images
Partey pleads not guilty to serious charges
The incidents are alleged to have taken place between 2021 and 2022, during his time in the Premier League with Arsenal.
He was formally charged in July, just four days after leaving the north London club when his contract expired at the end of June.
According to the BBC, Partey first confirmed his identity before firmly rejecting each of the allegations.
Judge Christopher Hehir then set a trial date for November 2, 2026, explaining that the long wait was due to a significant backlog of cases in the crown courts.
“Because you have bail, effectively you are sitting behind a queue of people in prison who are waiting to be tried,” the judge told him, as quoted by ESPN.
Watch as Partey departs the court:
Partey was granted bail under strict conditions. He is prohibited from contacting the three women involved, must inform police of any international travel at least 24 hours in advance, and notify authorities of any permanent change of address.
Meanwhile, Ghanaian lawyer Kofi Ampah has cautioned that Partey could be handed a severe prison sentence if found guilty of the sexual offence charges brought against him.
He, however, emphasised that despite the gravity of the allegations, the judicial process must remain fair and impartial.
Source: Getty Images
Partey met with hostile reception
Away from the courtroom, the embattled midfielder’s most recent appearance before the judge came barely 24 hours after turning out for Villarreal in their UEFA Champions League clash with Tottenham Hotspur.
Introduced in the 78th minute, Partey endured a hostile reception from the Spurs crowd, who jeered loudly and chanted, “You know what you are,” according to The Sun.
See the moment Tottenham fans booed Partey:
Despite the noise, he remained composed and made the most of his brief outing.
In just over 10 minutes on the pitch, Partey recorded nine touches, completed six passes, and created one chance, earning a 6.5 rating from Sofascore. Villarreal, however, lost the match 1-0.
Watch the moment Partey mesmerised Tottenham star:
Partey now turns his attention back to La Liga duties with Villarreal, who face Osasuna on September 20.
The 32-year-old has featured in all four of Villarreal’s league games so far and is expected to play a role on Saturday as the Yellow Submarine aim to bounce back from their first defeat of the season against Atletico Madrid.
Partey cautioned before Spurs' hostile treatment
Before Villarreal's Champions League clash with Tottenham, YEN.com.gh highlighted comments from Villarreal defender Juan Foyth, who cautioned Thomas Partey to prepare for a frosty reception from Spurs fans.
Foyth, a former Spurs player now plying his trade in Spain, echoed that warning when asked about his teammate.
Source: YEN.com.gh
