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.
