Former Arsenal footballer Thomas Partey is set to deny two new allegations of rape.
At Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday, Partey was not in court as deputy chief magistrate Tan Ikram dealt with the preliminary stages of the case.
The footballer had been excused from the hearing, but his lawyer, Emma Fenn, indicated he intends to plead not guilty to both charges, which relate to a woman on a date in December 2020.
The 32-year-old previously appeared at Southwark Crown Court last year to deny five counts of rape against two other women, and a charge of sexual assault against a third.
Those alleged offences occurred between 2021 and 2022 when he played at the Premier League club.
The court heard on Friday that the two new allegations of rape came to light after the first set of charges had been revealed.
Arabella MacDonald, prosecuting, told the court: “Mr Partey faces two further charges of rape dating back to December 2020.
“The complainant came forward after news of Mr Partey’s other matters were widely publicised.”
Judge Ikram sent the two new charges of rape – involving a fourth alleged victim – to the crown court for a hearing on 10 April.
A trial for the first set of charges has been scheduled for 2 November.
Partey, who previously gave his address as Potters Bar in Hertfordshire, joined Arsenal from Atletico Madrid in 2020 in a transfer worth around £45m. He left the team last year and now plays for Spanish club Villarreal.
The Ghanaian midfielder played 35 games for the north London club in the Premier League last season, scoring four goals.
He has made more than 50 appearances for Ghana, including at the World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations.
An Arsenal spokesperson previously said: “The player’s contract ended on 30 June. Due to ongoing legal proceedings, the club is unable to comment on the case.”
