The Ghanaian player who spent 5 seasons at Arsenal will go to trial in November for 7 charges of rape and one of sexual assault against four women: on the 23rd there is Ghana-England and the English federation is reportedly considering whether to force its players not to shake his hand
For Ghana, Thomas Partey is a pillar, the vice-captain, a 32-year-old veteran of his second World Cup ready to help transform the team into one of the surprises of the tournament. For England, where he played for 5 seasons with Arsenal until June last year, Partey is a man who will go to trial in November on seven charges of rape and one of sexual assault against four different women. Accusations that the player, through his lawyers, has always rejected. Partey’s legal position is a problem especially in view of England-Ghana on 23 June in Boston, a Group L match. A problem so big that the FA, the English federation, is even considering whether to force its players not to shake Partey’s hand during pre-match rituals.
the case
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It was Ghana’s pre-World Cup friendly against Wales in Cardiff that officially opened the diplomatic case. Partey, regularly on the pitch, was inundated with boos and boos every time he touched the ball, for the entire 45 minutes in which coach Carlos Queiroz left him on the pitch. Nothing new for the midfielder, who played his last four seasons in the Premier League accompanied by the same boos every time he left the Emirates Stadium with Arsenal. Enough, however, to make it a case. “As far as I know, in every corner of the world there is the presumption of innocence and only when someone is convicted does he become guilty – Queiroz said of Partey’s situation -. Today, and it doesn’t just apply to Thomas, we live in the world of social media where a person is convicted before he even has the chance to defend himself.” It has been happening to Partey for a long time, since in July 2022 the news appeared in the English press that a Premier League player, a star in his team and an important national team of his country, had been accused of rape: the British press, for legal reasons, never mentioned his name, but in every stadium in England since the 2022-23 season all the fans knew that the accused was Partey and everyone reacted by showering him with boos.
the accusations
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London police began investigating Partey in February 2022, after a rape complaint. Three months later, the news became public and although it wasn’t in the newspapers, the name of the midfielder then at Arsenal was circulating among the fans. The midfielder remained under investigation for three years, during which time he continued to play regularly for the Gunners, his availability dictated by injuries and not by the charges against him. The adventure with Arsenal ended on 30 June 2025: a few days before, Partey was officially accused of rape and sexual assault against three different women. The crimes allegedly took place at his home, between 2021 and 2022. In August of this year, still without a team, Partey appeared before a court which granted him bail, banned him from having contact with the women who accused him, and imposed a 24-hour notice for any international travel. Two days later, Partey signed a two-year deal in Spain with Villarreal, with whom he played in 2025-26. In February this year, allegations from a fourth woman led to two new rape charges against Partey. “My client is looking forward to trial so he can finally have the opportunity to clear his name.” Partey never spoke about the accusations, but the World Cup, the booing of the Wales fans and the match against England brought his situation back into the spotlight. Quieroz doesn’t worry about it, Ghana is convinced that Partey can be decisive for their adventure. For the English federation, however, the match on 23 June could be the moment to send a message. If the players don’t do it, it will probably be the fans in the stands who will remember why the former Arsenal midfielder is a problem for England.
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