Former Arsenal footballer Thomas Partey plans to contest two new rape allegations, according to a court hearing, having been absent from the initial proceedings.
The 32-year-old has been charged with two counts of raping a woman during a date in December 2020.
During the preliminary hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday, Partey was not present, as Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram addressed early case details.
His attorney, Emma Fenn, confirmed that Partey intends to plead not guilty to both allegations.
Last year, he faced charges of five counts of rape against two women and sexual assault against a third victim, following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police.
He has already pleaded not guilty to previous allegations from 2021 and 2022, and is scheduled for trial at Southwark Crown Court in November.
The court revealed that the new allegations of rape were brought to light after the initial charges against Partey became public.
Prosecutor Arabella MacDonald informed the court: “Mr. Partey is facing two additional charges of rape from December 2020, as the complainant came forward after the publicity surrounding his previous allegations.”
Judge Ikram has forwarded the new charges for a hearing at the crown court set for April 10.
The Ghanaian midfielder, currently with Spanish club Villarreal, is accused of raping a woman in London twice on a single day in December 2020.
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The footballer, who previously resided in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, transferred to Arsenal from Atletico Madrid in 2020 for approximately £45 million ($59.7 million), before leaving the club in June of last year.
Partey has made over 50 appearances for the Ghana national team, participating in the World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations.
He was released on bail with a condition prohibiting contact with the alleged victim and is expected to attend the next court hearing in April.