Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey granted bail on rape and sexual assault fees

Former Arsenal footballer Thomas Partey was granted conditional bail on Tuesday after showing in a London court docket on rape and sexual assault fees.

The 32-year-old Ghana worldwide has been charged with 5 counts of rape in opposition to two ladies and one rely of sexual assault in opposition to a 3rd lady.

The alleged offences befell between 2021 and 2022, when he was an Arsenal participant.

Partey was charged on July 4, 4 days after leaving the Gunners when his contract expired on the finish of June.

The midfielder stood together with his arms behind his again within the dock at Westminster Magistrates’ Court docket on Tuesday, sporting a black zip-neck jumper.

The footballer confirmed no response as the fees have been learn out and was not requested to enter any pleas.

Partey’s lawyer Jenny Wiltshire beforehand mentioned Partey “denies all the fees in opposition to him”, including he welcomed “the chance to lastly clear his identify”.

Underneath his bail circumstances he can’t contact any of the three ladies and should notify police of any everlasting modifications of tackle or worldwide journey.

Stories in latest days have linked Partey with a transfer to LaLiga membership Villarreal.

As bail circumstances have been mentioned in court docket, chief Justice of the Peace Paul Goldspring mentioned: “I perceive he’s not employed on this nation and enjoying in Spain now.”

Partey is because of seem at London’s Previous Bailey court docket on September 2.

A spokesperson for Arsenal Supporters Towards Sexual Violence mentioned the group was “profoundly disillusioned” within the London membership over their dealing with of the matter.

Talking outdoors court docket, Honor Barber advised the PA information company: “We by no means wished to be in a state of affairs the place the membership that we love and the membership that has values that we consider in was enjoying, week-in, week-out, a participant who’s now going through court docket appearances on six counts of sexual violence.

“We protested outdoors nearly each dwelling sport final season as a result of we wished to disrupt the wall of silence that the membership has put up round this subject.”

Barber mentioned the group wished the membership to publish their sexual violence insurance policies, “droop anybody underneath investigation for sexual offences” and “correctly assist the survivors”.

British police mentioned they first obtained reviews of an allegation of rape in February 2022.

Partey joined Arsenal for £45 million ($60 million) from Atletico Madrid in October 2020.

He appeared 52 occasions for the Gunners final season, scoring 4 targets. General he performed 167 video games for the membership, scoring 9 occasions.

Partey has additionally made 51 appearances for Ghana.

An Arsenal spokesman beforehand mentioned: “The  participant’s  contract ended on June  30. As a result of ongoing authorized proceedings the membership is unable to remark on the case.”