As of February 12, 2026, former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey is facing a significant expansion of the legal case against him. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has authorized two additional counts of rape against the 32-year-old, bringing the total number of charges to eight involving four different women.
The latest developments introduce a separate investigative track alongside his existing trial:
- The Fourth Accuser: The two new charges involve a fourth woman and stem from a separate report made in August 2025.
- The 2020 Allegations: Unlike the previous charges which focused on 2021–2022, these new allegations relate to incidents that allegedly occurred in 2020.
- Fresh Investigation: These counts follow a brand-new investigation by the Metropolitan Police into what they describe as “non-recent offences”.
- New Hearing Date: Partey has been summoned to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday, March 13, 2026, specifically to address these two new charges.
The “Original” Legal Case
The new charges are separate from the trial already scheduled for late 2026:
- The Charges: In July 2025, Partey was charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.
- The Timeline: These incidents allegedly took place between April 2021 and June 2022 while he was a regular first-team player for Arsenal.
- Plea and Trial: In September 2025, Partey appeared at Southwark Crown Court and entered a plea of not guilty to all six of these original counts.
- Trial Date: The main trial for these six offences is scheduled to begin on November 2, 2026, and is expected to last six to eight weeks.
Professional Impact and Club Reactions
- Arsenal’s Handling: The club faced criticism for continuing to play Partey regularly during the initial three-year investigation (which began in February 2022). His contract was allowed to expire in June 2025, and he was formally charged just four days later.
- Villarreal & Marcelino: Following the new charges, Villarreal manager Marcelino expressed deep frustration, describing Partey as a “shadow” of his former self and stating that the player is “mentally elsewhere” due to the ongoing court dates.
- Bail Conditions: He remains on conditional bail, allowing him to play in Spain provided he does not contact the complainants and notifies police of all international travel (such as for Champions League matches) at least 24 hours in advance.
Summary of Legal Timeline
| Date | Legal Event | Court |
|---|---|---|
| August 2025 | First report of the 2020 offences made to police | N/A |
| September 2025 | Pleaded Not Guilty to original 6 charges | Southwark Crown Court |
| February 12, 2026 | Officially charged with 2 new counts of rape | N/A |
| March 13, 2026 | First hearing for the two new charges | Westminster Magistrates’ Court |
| November 2, 2026 | Start of trial for the original 6 charges | Southwark Crown Court |
