Former Arsenal star Thomas Partey faces multiple rape charges

Thomas Partey, Ghanaian footballer and former Arsenal midfielder, has been charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault involving three different women. The alleged incidents occurred between 2021 and 2022, which are the subject of the allegations. Thomas Partey was arrested after a three-year investigation by London's Metropolitan Police.

Due to legal restrictions, Partey's name has been kept secret since his initial arrest in July 2022. However, days after his contract with Arsenal officially ended on June 30, his identity was finally verified on Friday after much conjecture. Despite spending a large portion of his career under investigation, he continued to play and made 53 appearances for Arsenal in the previous season itself.

The charges against the footballer include two counts of rape involving one woman, three counts of rape involving a second woman, and one count of sexual assault involving a third woman.

Thomas Partey is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, for his first hearing, according to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). CPS spokesperson Jaswant Narwal stated in a statement:

“The Crown Prosecution Service has today authorised the prosecution of Thomas Partey for multiple counts of rape – after carefully reviewing a comprehensive file of evidence.

He continued:

“Our prosecutors have worked closely with officers in the Metropolitan Police who have carried out the investigation, to review the evidence and advise on the appropriate charges.”

The investigation's chief investigator, Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy, stressed assistance for the accused victims:

“Our priority remains providing support to the women who have come forward. We would ask anyone who has been impacted by this case, or anyone who has information, to speak with our team. You can contact detectives about this investigation by emailing [email protected].”

---

Thomas Partey denies all charges and public outrage

Thomas Partey's lawyer, Jenny Wiltshire, released a statement:

“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 finally clear his name. Given that there are now ongoing legal proceedings, my client is unable to comment further.”

The public was fuming over the fact that Partey was still playing for the club while the inquiry was ongoing. Critics contend that Partey continued to participate in high-profile games, like the 2022 FIFA World Cup, when he represented Ghana, in contrast to the majority of other professions, where anyone under significant criminal investigation would be suspended.

For the past two seasons, campaigners have been demanding his suspension outside the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal's home ground. Thomas Partey has also been the subject of abuse by the opposition team in away games, where they sing chants about the footballer.

Dino Nocivelli, a Lay Day partner, in an interview with Telegraph Sport, stated:

“I think the fact that the defendant in these cases has been able to continue his working life is wrong and clearly sends the wrong message for such serious allegations as rape and sexual assault."

He added:

“The player should have been suspended while his football club and the Football Association investigated the allegations, with no prospect of resuming his work until the investigations were concluded.”

Despite several inquiries from reporters, neither Arsenal nor the Football Association (FA) have made a public statement since Thomas Partey's initial arrest in 2022. The Premier League and the FA are currently being seriously questioned inside their own organizations for their inaction.

Even though the FA allegedly received a complaint on Partey in 2022, they came to the conclusion that he did not pose "a risk of harm to children or adults at risk in football." This decision is currently under investigation.

Almost 9000 Arsenal fans signed a letter where they asked the management to drop the Ghanaian. The Arsenal Supporters Against Sexual Violence wrote:

"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 would give the suggestion that success on the pitch far outweighs respect for victims of sexual violence.”

---

Thomas Partey, a footballer who once held a record-breaking transfer from Atletico Madrid in 2020 for a price of £45 million. He was pivotal for Arsenal in their last three seasons in the Premier League, where they fell short of the trophy, finishing second and a semi-final finish in the Champions League this season.

The Ghanaian's contract renewal at Arsenal eventually collapsed and was a free agent. He received offers from Spain, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey. Now, all of this is put to a halt by the legal issues.

---

Stay tuned to Soap Central for more information.