Ghanaian international midfielder Thomas Partey, who recently parted ways with Arsenal FC, has found himself at the centre of serious criminal proceedings in the United Kingdom. On July 4, 2025, the Metropolitan Police, working in collaboration with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), announced that Partey had been formally charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.
The charges involve allegations from three different women and are said to have taken place between 2021 and 2022, during the period in which Partey was playing for Arsenal in the English Premier League. The charges follow an extensive investigation that began in February 2022, when the first complaint was received by law enforcement authorities.
According to official police statements, Partey was arrested in July 2022 in relation to these allegations, though his identity was not disclosed to the public at that time. He continued to play for Arsenal while investigations were ongoing, and only after being formally charged did his name become public. Of the five rape charges, two relate to a single complainant, while three are connected to a second woman. The sexual assault charge pertains to a third alleged victim.
The accusations were thoroughly investigated over more than two years, and the police have reiterated their commitment to supporting the victims, urging any additional individuals affected or with information to contact them directly. Partey is scheduled to appear in court at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London on August 5, 2025, where he will formally respond to the charges.
Partey’s legal team has issued a strong denial of all the allegations. His lawyer, Jenny Wiltshire of the law firm Hickman & Rose, stated that her client denies all the charges and has cooperated fully with the police and prosecution authorities throughout the three-year investigation. She added that Partey welcomes the opportunity to finally clear his name in a court of law.
In line with UK law on such matters, the identities of the alleged victims remain protected under lifelong anonymity provisions. The media and the public have been warned that publishing information that could lead to the identification of any of the women involved could result in contempt of court proceedings. The CPS has also stressed the importance of respecting the legal process, cautioning against prejudicial public commentary on the ongoing case.
Partey’s contract with Arsenal expired on June 30, 2025, just days before the charges became public. The club has declined to comment on the matter, citing the pending court proceedings. With no club affiliation at the moment, Partey is technically a free agent. His situation has already sparked wide discussions within the footballing community and beyond, with many awaiting the outcome of the court appearance in August to determine what future, if any, remains for the midfielder in professional football.
Thomas Partey Football Journey
Away from the courtroom, Thomas Partey’s football journey has been marked by talent, resilience, and success. Born on June 13, 1993, in Krobo Odumase, a small town near Accra in Ghana, Partey was introduced to football at a young age by his father, who ran a small local team. He played youth football with Odometah in Ghana before securing a move to Spain in 2012, where he joined the youth ranks of Atlético Madrid after a brief period with CD Leganés. At Atlético, Partey quickly progressed through the ranks, earning promotion to the reserve team in 2013 and eventually making his first-team debut later that year.
To gain regular first-team football, Partey was sent on loan to RCD Mallorca in the Spanish Segunda División for the 2013–14 season, where he made 37 appearances and scored five goals. His performances earned him another loan, this time to UD Almería in La Liga for the 2014–15 season.
At Almería, he played 31 times and netted four goals, including a memorable brace in a 3–0 win over Granada. Returning to Atlético Madrid for the 2015–16 season, Partey broke into Diego Simeone’s first-team plans. He scored his first La Liga goal for Atlético in a 1–0 win over Levante in January 2016 and gradually established himself as a versatile and reliable presence in midfield.
Over five seasons with Atlético Madrid, Partey made 188 appearances and scored 16 goals. His tenure with the club was punctuated by notable achievements, including winning the UEFA Europa League in 2018, the UEFA Super Cup the same year, and playing in the 2016 UEFA Champions League final.
Though he left the club midway through the 2020–21 season, he was part of the squad that went on to win the La Liga title that year. Known for his physicality, tactical intelligence, and long-range shooting, Partey attracted attention from top European clubs, and on October 5, 2020, Arsenal activated his £45 million release clause to bring him to the Premier League.
Thomas Partey Premier League Career
Partey’s time in North London had its highs and lows. His debut came against Manchester City just days after signing, but his first season was disrupted by repeated thigh injuries. Despite these setbacks, Partey played a key role in the team’s midfield, combining ball-winning abilities with forward thrust. He scored his first goal for Arsenal in October 2021 in a 3–1 win over Aston Villa and was later named the club’s Player of the Month in February 2022.
The 2022–23 season saw a more consistent Partey, who made 33 appearances and scored three goals, one of which was later named Arsenal’s Goal of the Season for its stunning strike against Tottenham Hotspur in a North London Derby.
The following season, 2023–24, was again hampered by injury as Partey missed large portions of the campaign with a hamstring problem. However, he returned strongly in 2024–25, contributing key goals and turning in solid performances against top sides like Aston Villa and Manchester City. In total, Partey made 167 appearances for Arsenal, scoring nine goals and assisting several more. His time in the Premier League helped cement his reputation as one of Africa’s leading midfield talents.
Thomas Partey International Career
Internationally, Thomas Partey has been a mainstay of the Ghanaian national team since making his debut in 2016 during an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Mauritius. He has represented Ghana at multiple AFCON tournaments, including the 2017, 2019, and 2021 editions, and was also part of the squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. One of his most memorable performances in a Ghana shirt came in 2017, when he scored a hat-trick in a 5–1 World Cup qualifying win over Congo.
As of 2025, he has amassed 53 international caps and scored 15 goals. He was named Ghana Player of the Year in both 2018 and 2019 and featured in the CAF Team of the Year in 2018 and again in 2023.
Now, with his career paused and his reputation under intense scrutiny, Thomas Partey faces perhaps the most defining moment of his life. The legal proceedings set to unfold over the coming months will determine not only his future in football but also his place in the wider public discourse.
While the football world has grown accustomed to seeing Partey dominate midfield battles, the attention now turns to the courtrooms, where a different kind of contest will be played out—one that may permanently shape the legacy of a man once celebrated for his prowess on the pitch.
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