Arsenal veteran Thomas Partey granted temporary release until September
Thomas Partey, a former Arsenal midfielder, has been charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, related to incidents involving three women that allegedly took place between 2021 and 2022. The charges were announced on August 1, 2025, approximately a month after his Arsenal contract expired.
The timeline of events began in February 2022, when the Metropolitan Police received reports of an allegation of rape. Despite the ongoing investigation, Partey continued to play for Arsenal until his contract ended on June 30, 2025. He was formally charged on August 1 and appeared in court at Westminster Magistrates' Court on August 5, where he was granted conditional bail.
Partey's bail conditions include not contacting any of the three women and notifying the police of any permanent changes of address or international travel. His next court appearance is scheduled for September 2, 2025, at the Old Bailey in London.
Arsenal, due to the ongoing legal proceedings, has stated that it is unable to comment further on the case. However, Thomas Partey has denied all charges and pledged his cooperation to clear his name.
Following his bail, Partey signed a one-year deal with Spanish club Villarreal, with an option to extend for another year. The deal, reported to be worth €50m (£45m), will allow Partey to play in the Champions League next season. Villarreal has expressed respect for the presumption of innocence and condemned any form of violence, including gender-based violence.
The charges against Thomas Partey have sparked protests from Arsenal Supporters Against Sexual Violence, who accused the club of failing to take action over the allegations. The group held a protest outside Westminster Magistrates' Court.
Thomas Partey spent eight years with Atletico Madrid before joining Arsenal in 2020. He is due to appear at the Old Bailey on September 2. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta stated that he was "100 per cent" confident that the club had followed the right process around Partey.
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