Thomas Partey: The key questions about former Arsenal midfielder charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault

Thomas Partey was once seen as one of the best midfielders at Arsenal Football Club. He was strong on the ball, good at breaking up play, and had that special ability to control games from the center of the pitch. Many fans loved him for what he could do on the field. But away from football, his life has become the center of a very serious legal case. Now the world knows that he has been charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault involving three different women, with the alleged crimes happening in 2021 and 2022. Partey has denied all the charges against him, saying he is completely innocent and welcoming the chance to clear his name in court.

This news broke not long after his Arsenal contract ended on June 30, 2025. It sent shockwaves across social media, football forums, and television screens. People everywhere were talking about it, wondering how such a thing could happen, how a star footballer could be accused of something so serious. But for the police and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), this was the result of a long investigation that had taken years to reach the point of charges.

It all began back in July 2022. That was when Thomas Partey was first arrested on suspicion of rape. But even before that arrest, there were whispers and rumors online that something was going on. Fans had seen strange stories on Twitter or heard chants in stadiums aimed at Partey about something the media would not report. But no one could say for sure.

When he was first arrested, the Metropolitan Police began a very detailed and careful investigation. Investigating sexual crimes is one of the most challenging things the police do. There is often no clear physical evidence, no witnesses except the people involved, and it can take a long time to gather statements, check timelines, and verify every detail.

By December 27, 2024—about 18 months after the arrest—the police sent their first report to the CPS. That meant the case had taken a year and a half just to get to the point where prosecutors would examine the evidence to see if charges could even be brought. But even then, the process wasn’t finished.

After that first submission, the CPS asked for more information. The police went back and did more investigations, gathering more statements and evidence. In April 2025, they sent an updated file. It was only then that the CPS decided there was enough evidence for a realistic chance of conviction if the case went to trial. They decided to charge Thomas Partey with those six very serious crimes.

These details matter because people have been asking: Why did it take so long? Why wait three years from arrest to charges? The answer lies in how complicated rape investigations are. Prosecutors must be confident they can prove a case to a jury beyond reasonable doubt. That standard is high—and it should be.

In fact, Rape Crisis, a UK charity, published shocking statistics recently: in 2024 alone, more than 71,000 cases of rape were reported to police in England and Wales. But out of those, only 2.7% ended with a suspect even being charged. That means the vast majority of victims never see their cases go to court. It also means the CPS is cautious: they don’t want to put people on trial unless they really believe they can prove guilt.

In Thomas Partey’s case, they finally reached that point in June 2025. By then, Arsenal had already announced that his contract was expiring on June 30. When the charges were filed on July 4, just a few days later, social media lit up with speculation. Some people asked if this timing was a deliberate move—to wait until he was no longer an Arsenal player.

But that’s not how the CPS works. They are independent of the police. Their only job is to decide, based on the evidence, whether there’s a realistic prospect of conviction. They don’t time charges to match a player’s contract status, or to protect a football club. They act when they’re ready.

Some fans also wondered whether the police might try to speed up investigations if they feared a suspect could leave the country. That can happen in some cases. Police might try to finish gathering evidence quickly if they think someone is about to move abroad and will be hard to extradite. But there’s no evidence that was the case with Partey. In fact, the authorities haven’t said anything to suggest that.

It is true, however, that once his contract with Arsenal ended, Partey was free to sign for any club in the world. That’s what players normally do when their deals expire—they move to new opportunities. But any club thinking of signing him will now know he is facing serious criminal charges.

Another big question that people asked was: Why wasn’t Partey named in the press earlier? Many fans online talked about the “mystery Premier League footballer” under investigation for rape. Some rival supporters even chanted insults at him in stadiums. But the newspapers and broadcasters would not publish his name.

This wasn’t because they didn’t know. It was because of the law. In the UK, victims of sexual crimes have a lifetime right to anonymity. They cannot be named in the media at any stage—not even if their accused attacker is found not guilty. That is meant to protect victims from stigma and harm.

By contrast, someone arrested for a crime does not automatically get anonymity. But in February 2022, the UK Supreme Court ruled that someone who is under investigation, but not yet charged, does have a reasonable expectation of privacy. That means newspapers could be sued if they name someone before charges are brought.

Because of that legal ruling, outlets like Sky Sports, the BBC, and newspapers avoided naming Partey until he was officially charged. Even though the accusations were discussed in stadiums and on social media, the traditional media stayed silent to avoid breaking the law. Once charges were filed, however, the law allowed them to name him, and they did.

For Arsenal, this created a complicated situation. Some fans wanted the club to suspend Partey the moment he was arrested in 2022. Others argued that he was innocent until proven guilty. Arsenal never publicly explained why they chose to let him keep playing.

Sky Sports News has reported that Arsenal got legal advice at the time. The club was told they had to balance different duties of care. They had to be fair to Partey as an employee—who, in law, was presumed innocent until proven guilty. They also had a duty to protect other staff members, and to make sure proper safeguarding was in place.

Arsenal is not the only club to face this kind of dilemma. Manchester City suspended Benjamin Mendy in 2021 when he was charged with multiple counts of sexual assault. They didn’t pay him during that time. In the end, Mendy was acquitted of all charges in 2023. He then sued City for lost wages—and won £11 million in damages.

That case shows how risky it can be for a club to suspend a player who is later found not guilty. If Arsenal had suspended Partey in 2022 without paying him, and he was eventually cleared, they could have faced a legal bill in the tens of millions.

These cases also raise questions about fairness. Should a famous footballer be treated differently from an office worker? Should public figures lose their jobs just because they are arrested? The law says everyone should be treated equally. But clubs also worry about their reputation. If they keep playing someone who is later convicted, that can cause enormous backlash from fans, sponsors, and the wider public. This legal and moral balancing act is one reason Arsenal did not suspend Partey. They chose to follow legal advice. They ensured they had safeguarding in place. But they let j

him keep playing.

In fact, in April 2025—just months before the charges were filed—Sky Sports News reported that Arsenal had even opened contract renewal talks with Partey. Mikel Arteta, the Arsenal manager, praised him publicly, calling him a really important player for the team. And when the club published its retained list in early June 2025, it confirmed they were still in negotiations about a new deal.

That decision is now being questioned even more fiercely. Fans and pundits want to know why Arsenal would try to keep a player who was under criminal investigation for such serious alleged crimes. The club has not answered that question.

Since the charges were filed, Arsenal has said almost nothing. A club spokesperson gave a very short statement: “The player’s contract ended on June 30. Due to ongoing legal proceedings the club is unable to comment on the case.” That is standard practice during an active court case. Anything the club says could risk prejudicing a trial. Neither the Football Association nor the Premier League has commented either. They typically avoid discussing criminal charges against individual players unless there is a conviction or a disciplinary decision to announce.

Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police investigation continues. Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy, the senior officer in charge, has said that the priority is to support the women who came forward to make allegations. He urged anyone with information to contact his team.

The legal process will move slowly. Partey’s first court appearance is scheduled for August 5, 2025, at Westminster Magistrates’ Court. That initial hearing will be about the charges and bail conditions—it won’t decide guilt or innocence. A full criminal trial, with all the evidence and witnesses, is unlikely to take place before 2026.

Until then, Thomas Partey is technically free to continue his career. He’s no longer under contract at Arsenal, so he can sign for any club in the world. But any club that wants him will have to weigh the reputational risk of hiring someone charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.

Partey himself, through his lawyers, has said he denies all the charges. His legal team issued a statement saying he has fully cooperated with the police and CPS throughout the three-year investigation. They also said he welcomes the opportunity to finally clear his name in court.

For the women who made the allegations, this process will be deeply stressful and traumatic. Rape trials are notoriously difficult for complainants. They will have to give evidence, possibly be cross-examined, and face public scrutiny—even though their identities will remain protected by law.

The story of Thomas Partey has become a test case for English football and society in general. It shows how difficult it is for clubs to balance fairness, safeguarding, and reputation when a star player is accused of a serious crime. It shows how slow and cautious the legal system can be in bringing charges. And it shows how public discussion about these cases can become deeply polarized, with some people defending the accused and others demanding immediate punishment. It is also a sobering reminder that footballers are not untouchable heroes. They are people. And like everyone else, they can be accused of terrible things—and must answer for them in court if the evidence is there.

As the months go by, more details will emerge. The legal system will move at its own slow pace. Fans will continue to debate. Clubs will watch and learn from Arsenal’s choices, wondering how they would handle a similar situation. For now, Thomas Partey remains a free man, but one facing some of the gravest charges anyone can face. The world waits to see what the courts will decide. And many people hope for justice—not just for the women who made the allegations, but for the principle that everyone, no matter how famous or rich, must answer for their actions in a court of law