Former Arsenal star Thomas Partey is expected to deny two new allegations of rape, a court in the United Kingdom has heard.
The 32-year-old Ghanaian footballer was charged last month with two counts of rape relating to an alleged incident involving a woman in December 2020. The new charges add to previous allegations filed against the midfielder.
During a preliminary hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday, Partey was excused from appearing in person. His lawyer, Emma Fenn, informed the court that the player intends to plead not guilty to both charges when he appears before the crown court on 10 April.
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The Ghana international had earlier been charged with five counts of rape involving two women and one count of sexual assault against a third complainant following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police.
Partey has already entered not guilty pleas to those allegations, which are said to have occurred between 2021 and 2022. He is expected to stand trial at Southwark Crown Court in November.
Prosecutor Arabella MacDonald told the court that the latest complainant came forward after the earlier allegations against the footballer became widely publicised.
“The complainant came forward after news of Mr Partey’s other matters were widely publicised,” she told the court.
The court granted Partey bail on Friday with conditions, including a restriction barring him from contacting the alleged victim.
The midfielder currently plays for Spanish side Villarreal CF. He joined Arsenal from Atlético Madrid in 2020 in a deal reportedly worth about £45 million before leaving the London club in June last year.
Partey has made more than 50 appearances for the Ghana national football team, representing the country at major tournaments including the FIFA World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations.