Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has been charged with two additional counts of rape involving a fourth alleged victim.

The new charges relate to incidents said to have occurred in 2020 and were reported to police in August last year. They stem from a fresh investigation conducted by the Metropolitan Police.

The 32-year-old Ghana international had already pleaded not guilty to five counts of rape involving two women and one count of sexual assault concerning a third woman. With the latest developments, he now faces allegations connected to four separate women.

Partey is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 13 March for an initial hearing regarding the new charges.

In September, he was granted conditional bail at Southwark Crown Court after denying the original five charges. Those allegations concern incidents said to have taken place between 2021 and 2022, during his time at Arsenal.

He was formally charged shortly after his contract with the north London club expired at the end of June last year.

The wider investigation began in February 2022, following an initial report of rape made to police.

A trial has been provisionally listed for 2 November and will be overseen by a High Court judge.

Since leaving the Premier League, Partey has continued his career in Spain, signing a one-year contract with Villarreal in the summer. The move was confirmed after the charges had already been brought against him.

Partey joined Arsenal from Atletico Madrid in October 2020 for a reported £45.3 million transfer fee and made 130 Premier League appearances under manager Mikel Arteta.

His legal representative, Jenny Wiltshire, has previously stated that he denies all allegations and is seeking the opportunity to clear his name in court.

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Manchester City and Newcastle United have confirmed their starting line-ups for the Premier League clash at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday evening.

Manchester City

Starting XI: Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Guehi, Ait-Nouri; Rodri, Bernardo (C), O’Reilly; Semenyo, Haaland, Marmoush.

Substitutes: Trafford, Lewis, Khusanov, Stones, Nico, Reijnders, Foden, Cherki, Savinho.

Newcastle United

Starting XI: Pope; Trippier (C), Thiaw, Burn, Hall; Tonali, Willock, Ramsey; Elanga, Woltemade, Gordon.

Substitutes: Ruddy, Ramsdale, A. Murphy, Shahar, Joelinton, Barnes, Osula, J. Murphy, Neave.

Pep Guardiola’s side return to top-flight action following a professional, if somewhat “boring” – in the manager’s own words – 2-0 victory over Salford City in the FA Cup fourth round last weekend.

An early own goal from Alfie Dorrington set the tone but the Blues were forced to wait until the 81st minute for January signing Marc Guehi to bundle home his first goal for the club and settle the tie. While it wasn’t the free-flowing brilliance fans have come to expect, the result ensured safe passage for the Blues as they continue their hunt for silverware on four fronts.

The focus now shifts back to a high-stakes title race where the margin for error has reached a seasonal low. City come into this fixture knowing that any slip-up could prove costly in their pursuit of league leaders Arsenal.

With the gap at the summit still within reach, every point at the Etihad Stadium is precious, especially as the schedule begins to ramp up toward the business end of the campaign.

City face a Newcastle United side who have become a familiar and formidable foe this season; remarkably, this evening marks the fifth meeting between the two clubs in the current campaign. The tactical chess match between Guardiola and Eddie Howe has been a recurring theme of the year, with both managers well-versed in each other’s schemes and personnel.

While City triumphed in both legs of their Carabao Cup semi-final encounter earlier this year, the Magpies have proven they can bite back. Eddie Howe’s men secured a gritty 2-1 victory at St James’ Park in the reverse league fixture and arrive in Manchester buoyed by a dominant 6-1 European win over Qarabag FK in midweek.

Ahead of Saturday’s 20:00 UK kick-off at the Etihad Stadium, both Pep Guardiola and Eddie Howe have now confirmed their respective starting line-ups.

Manchester City

Starting XI: Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Guehi, Ait-Nouri; Rodri, Bernardo (C), O’Reilly; Semenyo, Haaland, Marmoush.

Substitutes: Trafford, Lewis, Khusanov, Stones, Nico, Reijnders, Foden, Cherki, Savinho.

Newcastle United

Starting XI: Pope; Trippier (C), Thiaw, Burn, Hall; Tonali, Willock, Ramsey; Elanga, Woltemade, Gordon.

Substitutes: Ruddy, Ramsdale, A. Murphy, Shahar, Joelinton, Barnes, Osula, J. Murphy, Neave.

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