Thomas Partey is one of the most recognisable midfielders of his generation. For five years, he was a cornerstone of Arsenal’s engine room and a captain-class leader for Ghana’s Black Stars.
But today, his name is in the headlines for something far more serious than football.
Thomas Partey has been charged with seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault by London’s Metropolitan Police and is currently awaiting trial. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
This article is a factual, court-verified breakdown of the Thomas Partey case — what he has been charged with, what has happened in court, where the trial stands today, and the latest development that saw him barred from a 2026 World Cup match.
Table of Contents
- Who Is Thomas Partey?
- What Is Thomas Partey Accused Of?
- When Were the Charges Filed?
- What Has Happened in Court?
- What Are the New Additional Charges?
- When Is the Thomas Partey Trial?
- Thomas Partey Denied Entry to Canada — What Happened?
- What Happens Next?
- Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who Is Thomas Partey?
Thomas Teye Partey is a 32-year-old professional footballer from Ghana. He is a defensive midfielder known for his physicality, range of passing, and ability to break up opposition play.
His career highlights include:
- Joining Arsenal from Atlético Madrid for €50 million in October 2020
- Making 167 appearances for Arsenal across five seasons
- Earning over 57 international caps for the Ghana national team
- Signing for Villarreal on a free transfer in the summer of 2025 after leaving Arsenal
Partey appeared at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and has been a consistent presence in the Ghana squad throughout his career. CBS News
2. What Is Thomas Partey Accused Of?
This is the question most people are searching for. Here is the factual answer, based entirely on confirmed court records.
Partey is accused of five counts of rape relating to two women, plus a charge of sexual assault against a third woman, between April 2021 and June 2022. The alleged offences took place when Partey played for Arsenal.
Prosecutors later charged him with two additional counts of rape involving a fourth woman, alleging he twice raped her on a single day in December 2020. The complainant came forward after news of Partey’s other charges were widely publicised, the court heard. CNBC
In total: Thomas Partey faces seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.
Thomas Partey has pleaded not guilty to every single charge. He has not been convicted of any offence.
3. When Were the Charges Filed?
The timeline of the Thomas Partey case began years before it became public:
- February 2022 — Metropolitan Police receive the first complaint
- July 2025 — Metropolitan Police charge Partey with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, just days after his Arsenal contract expired
- August 2025 — Partey appears at Westminster Magistrates’ Court and is granted conditional bail
- September 2025 — Partey appears at Southwark Crown Court and pleads not guilty to all initial charges
- February/March 2026 — Two new rape charges are filed, relating to a fourth alleged victim in December 2020
- April 2026 — Partey intends to plead not guilty to the new charges
The first public legal developments came in July 2025, when the Metropolitan Police charged Partey following a multi-year investigation that began in February 2022, when police received the first complaint.
4. What Has Happened in Court?
Partey appeared in the dock at Southwark Crown Court in September 2025 and spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth and enter his not guilty pleas.
Partey remains on conditional bail, which allows him to continue his professional career, provided he notifies police of international travel and does not contact the complainants.
His legal team has consistently maintained his innocence. His lawyer Jenny Wiltshire said: “Thomas Partey continues to deny all charges against him. He has cooperated with the police throughout.”
5. What Are the New Additional Charges?
The two new rape charges relate to a different woman who alleged Partey twice raped her on the same day in December 2020. According to a court hearing, the new allegations arose after the first set of charges were publicised.
Prosecutor Arabella MacDonald told the court: “The complainant came forward after news of Mr Partey’s other matters were widely publicised.” Defence barrister Emma Fenn subsequently indicated that her client “intends to plead not guilty” to both of the new counts.
This brought the total number of alleged victims to four women across two separate time periods: December 2020 and April 2021 to June 2022.
6. When Is the Thomas Partey Trial?
A trial has been set for November this year, although it could be delayed until 2027. It was confirmed that Partey’s trial on rape charges originally set for November at Southwark Crown Court had been pushed back to start on June 8, 2027. The next hearing in his case has been set for October.
The delay is partly due to the significant backlog in the English crown court system. Judge Christopher Hehir told Partey at the conclusion of the September 2025 hearing: “I appreciate that is quite a long way in advance. As you may appreciate, the crown courts have a huge backlog of work which means that trials do take a long time to come on. Because you have bail, effectively you are sitting behind a queue of people in prison who are waiting to be tried.”
In summary: The trial is currently scheduled to begin in June 2027 at Southwark Crown Court in London.
7. Thomas Partey Denied Entry to Canada — What Happened?
This is the most significant development in the Thomas Partey story in June 2026 — and it has directly affected the Ghana national team at the World Cup.
When Ghana opens its FIFA World Cup on Wednesday, June 17 in Toronto against Panama, they will be without Thomas Partey. FIFA confirmed that the Villarreal midfielder has been denied entry to Canada due to the rape charges pending in England.
FIFA released an official statement confirming: “FIFA can confirm that player Thomas Partey will be unable to travel from Ghana’s team base camp in Boston, USA, to Canada for their first match against Panama on Wednesday, 17 June, as his visa application has been refused by the Canadian government. FIFA is not involved in the immigration processes of host countries, including the adjudication of visas. As with previous FIFA events, the host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and is admitted into the country.”
What Does This Mean for Ghana?
Partey can still represent Ghana in matches being played on US soil:
- He remains eligible to feature in Ghana’s remaining group-stage matches against England in Boston on June 23 and Croatia in Philadelphia on June 27, both of which will be played in the United States.
However, his absence against Panama deprives Ghana of their most experienced and influential midfielder for a crucial opening match.
The England Handshake Controversy
Beyond the Canadian visa refusal, the Partey case has generated another flashpoint at the World Cup. The English Football Association is reportedly considering its stance over a potential pre-match handshake between England players and Thomas Partey when the two sides meet on June 23 in Boston.
8. What Happens Next?
Here is the current state of play across all dimensions of the Thomas Partey case:
| Area | Status |
|---|---|
| Criminal Trial | Scheduled for June 2027, Southwark Crown Court |
| Next Court Hearing | October 2026 |
| Current Club | Villarreal (contract option held by club) |
| Ghana World Cup | In squad — missed Panama match (Canada); eligible for USA matches |
| Bail Status | On conditional bail — no contact with complainants, must notify police of travel |
| Plea | Not guilty to all 8 charges |
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What did Thomas Partey do?
Thomas Partey has been charged with seven counts of rape involving four women and one count of sexual assault involving a third woman. The alleged offences took place between December 2020 and June 2022. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and has not been convicted of any offence.
Q2: When is the Thomas Partey trial?
The trial is currently scheduled to begin on June 8, 2027 at Southwark Crown Court in London. An earlier November 2026 date was pushed back due to the complexity of the case and court backlogs.
Q3: Has Thomas Partey been convicted?
No. Thomas Partey has not been convicted of any offence. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and is presumed innocent unless and until a court finds otherwise.
Q4: How many charges does Thomas Partey face?
As of June 2026, Thomas Partey faces eight charges in total: seven counts of rape involving four alleged victims and one count of sexual assault involving a third woman.
Q5: Why was Thomas Partey denied entry to Canada?
The Canadian government refused Partey’s visa application ahead of Ghana’s 2026 World Cup opening match against Panama in Toronto. The refusal is linked to the serious criminal charges he is facing in England. FIFA confirmed the decision, stating it does not intervene in host country immigration processes.
Q6: Is Thomas Partey still playing football?
Yes. Partey is currently playing for Villarreal in Spain’s La Liga and has been selected in Ghana’s 2026 World Cup squad. His bail conditions do not prevent him from playing professional football.
Q7: What were the Thomas Partey Arsenal allegations?
The allegations relating to the period when Partey was at Arsenal cover five counts of rape involving two women and one count of sexual assault involving a third woman, alleged to have occurred between April 2021 and June 2022. Partey has denied all of these charges.
Q8: Why was the Thomas Partey trial delayed?
The trial was pushed from November 2026 to June 2027 due to the complexity of the consolidated case — which now involves four alleged victims — and significant backlogs across England’s crown court system.
Conclusion: A Career Overshadowed by Serious Legal Proceedings
Thomas Partey arrives at the 2026 World Cup in the most difficult circumstances of his life. On the pitch, he remains one of Ghana’s most important players. Off it, he faces the most serious criminal charges a footballer has faced in recent memory.
The facts as they stand are these: he has been charged, he has denied everything, and his trial has not yet taken place. The English legal system operates on a presumption of innocence — a principle that must be respected regardless of the seriousness of the allegations.
What is certain is that the Thomas Partey case will remain one of the defining legal stories in football until the trial concludes in 2027. For Ghana, the World Cup continues. For the alleged victims, the wait for justice goes on. And for Partey, every match he plays will be shadowed by proceedings at Southwark Crown Court.
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