Thomas Partey appears at Southwark Crown Court on sexual offence charges

Thomas Partey appeared at Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday to answer five charges of rape and one charge of sexual assault, a hearing that took place hours after he played for Villarreal in a Champions League match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Partey, 32, entered a plea in the matter and denies all the charges, his lawyer said. The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed the charges relate to alleged offences against three women, with two counts of rape alleged against one woman, three counts against another and a separate sexual assault allegation concerning a third woman.

According to the CPS and police statements, the alleged incidents are said to have occurred between 2021 and 2022. The Metropolitan Police said the first report of a rape allegation was received in February 2022. Partey was formally charged with the offences four days after his Arsenal contract expired at the end of June. He subsequently transferred to Spanish club Villarreal on Aug. 7.

Earlier proceedings saw Partey appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court, where he was granted conditional bail. Bail conditions prohibit him from contacting any of the three women named in the prosecution. A plea hearing originally scheduled for Sept. 2 at the Old Bailey was adjourned without explanation, leading to Wednesday’s hearing at Southwark Crown Court.

Partey was substituted on in the 77th minute of Villarreal’s 1-0 defeat by Tottenham on Tuesday night and was repeatedly booed by home supporters after coming onto the pitch. Reports from the match said he was jeered each time he touched the ball and became the target of chants by some sections of the crowd.

His lawyer said Partey ‘‘denies all the charges against him’’ and welcomed ‘‘the opportunity to finally clear his name.’’ The Crown Prosecution Service has confirmed the charges and the case will proceed through the courts. No trial dates were announced at Wednesday’s hearing.

The case remains a matter before the court. The CPS and the Metropolitan Police have provided the outline of allegations and the timeline of reporting and charging; those details will be tested through the criminal justice process established for cases of this nature. Further hearings and procedural steps are expected as the prosecution and defence prepare for trial.