On July 4, Thomas Partey was charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault against three different women.
Two of those counts of rape are against one complainant, three further counts of rape are against a second complainant, and the sexual assault charge is said to have been committed against a third.
The alleged transgressions are claimed to have occurred within the 2021 to 2022 timeframe. Thomas Partey has categorically dismissed all accusations, maintaining his innocence.
He was first arrested in July 2022 yet The Telegraph has purportedly claims to have seen conclusive evidence suggesting that Arsenal Football Club, the Football Association (FA), and the Premier League were aware of concerns as early as September 2021.
Reportedly, no formal investigation was launched in the wake of that, because they fell outside the FA’s safeguarding responsibility for adults and minors ‘at risk’ in the sport. According to the FA’s safeguarding framework, their strategy involves ‘ensuring safeguarding, child protection and adult at risk concerns are investigated swiftly and thoroughly in conjunction with statutory agencies – and with demonstrable outcomes.’
Despite this prior awareness, no official inquiry was launched, reportedly because the matters fell beyond the FA’s jurisdiction concerning adult safeguarding and the welfare of individuals classified as ‘at risk’ within the sporting ecosystem.
As laid out in the FA’s safeguarding doctrine, their operational mandate emphasizes “the prompt and comprehensive handling of child protection and vulnerable adult issues, in close coordination with statutory authorities—with clear and measurable outcomes.”
Nevertheless, after deliberation with Arsenal, the FA is said to have informed potential witnesses that their cases did not fall under the governing body’s purview, according to The Telegraph.
A statement from Partey’s lawyer said: “Thomas Partey denies all the charges against him. He has fully cooperated with the police and CPS throughout their three-year investigation. He now welcomes the opportunity to finally clear his name.
The Football Association (FA) is the primary authority for receiving and managing safeguarding complaints, although the Premier League lacks jurisdiction to launch formal investigations into such situations.
Sources contacted both Arsenal and the FA for a comment, but no formal remarks have yet been given. The Premier League declined to comment, noting the ongoing status of the legal processes.
The allegations brought against Thomas Partey follow a meticulous three-year probe by Scotland Yard, culminating just five days after the expiration of his contract with Arsenal on June 30.
With his departure from the North London club, Partey currently remains unattached to any football institution, having completed five seasons in the Premier League during his tenure at the Emirates Stadium.
Related: Tottenham Hotspur agrees to a £54.5m deal to buy Mohammed Kudus from West Ham
The Ghanaian international faces a total of six serious charges—five for rape and one for sexual assault. The allegations come from three different women: two counts of rape involve one complainant, three more counts involve a second, and a single count of sexual assault involves a third. Due to legal restrictions, none of the claimed victims can be publicly identified.
Thomas Partey is expected to appear in Westminster Magistrates’ Court on August 5.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has clarified that the decision to charge came after a “thorough review of an extensive evidentiary file.” According to the CPS, the case was evaluated with “careful consideration” prior to any formal charges being made.
In a statement, his lawyer Jenny Wiltshire, said: ‘Thomas Partey denies all the charges against him.
‘He has fully cooperated with the police and CPS throughout their three-year investigation.
‘He now welcomes the opportunity to finally clear his name.
‘Given that there are now ongoing legal proceedings, my client is unable to comment further.’
Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy, who is overseeing the ongoing inquiry, reaffirmed the focus of the investigation said: ‘Our priority remains providing support to the women who have come forward.
‘We would ask anyone who has been impacted by this case, or anyone who has information, to speak with our team. You can contact detectives about this investigation by emailing CIT@met.police.uk’.
The Metropolitan Police disclosed that the investigation began in February 2022 after receiving an initial report of sexual assault. Partey was arrested in July of that same year, though he remained unnamed at the time and continued to feature for Arsenal during the investigation.
In fact, records reveal he participated in over 50 matches for the club while on bail.
