Former Arsenal footballer Thomas Partey charged with multiple rapes

Thomas Partey, the former Arsenal footballer, has been charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, the Crown Prosecution Service has announced.

The bombshell case leaves the Premier League club facing intense criticism for continuing to play him for almost three years in full knowledge of an investigation.

Partey, 32, was one of the club’s top earners and a key figure in three consecutive title challenges and last season’s run to the Champions League semi-final.

The allegations relate to three separate women who reported incidents which took place between 2021 and 2022.

The Ghanaian – whose Arsenal contract expired on Monday – will now appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on Tuesday 5 August 2025.

Jaswant Narwal, of the CPS, said: “The Crown Prosecution Service has today authorised the prosecution of Thomas Partey for multiple counts of rape – after carefully reviewing a comprehensive file of evidence.

“Our prosecutors have worked closely with officers in the Metropolitan Police who have carried out the investigation, to review the evidence and advise on the appropriate charges.

“We remind everyone that criminal proceedings are active, and the defendant has the right to a fair trial.

“We know there will be significant public interest in this announcement, but it is absolutely vital that there is no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”

Despite being out of contract, Partey was still listed as an Arsenal player on the club’s website after the news of the charges broke on Friday afternoon and replica shirts with his name on the back were still available to purchase.

Campaigners are dismayed by Arsenal’s failure to drop Partey while knowing he was under investigation. They point out in most industries professionals would be automatically suspended as soon as their employer learnt of serious criminal allegations. Partey, however, played 53 games last season alone for Arsenal, and racked up an additional 56 club appearances over the previous two seasons while on bail. He played three games at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

With The Telegraph report