Villarreal midfielder Thomas Party appeared on Wednesday to a London court and declared himself innocent from accusations of rape and sexual aggression involving three women.
Party, who advocates the selection of Ghana, is accused of five rape crimes related to two women and also accused of sexual assault against a third woman, between April 2021 and June 2022.
The alleged crimes occurred when Party played for Arsenal, England. He left the London club in the latest transfers window in European football and signed with Villarreal, from Spain.
The 32-year-old came to the defendants’ bank at Southwark court and spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth and declare himself innocent.
Party was released under bail before his trial, which is scheduled for November 2, 2026 and is expected to last six to eight weeks.
He was hired in 2020 by Arsenal, which agreed to pay 50 million euros (R $ 313.9 million in the current price) to Atletico Madrid. He became a fundamental member of the starting lineup of the English club before his contract expired at the end of June.
Party played for Villarreal in the Champions League match against Arsenal’s great rival, Tottenham Hotspur, on Tuesday (16), in London. He entered the second half and was booed intensely by local fans.
