Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey appeared in a London court on Tuesday, charged with raping two women while he was a player for the English Premier League soccer club.

Partey, a Ghana international, is accused of five counts of rape relating to two women, plus a charge of sexual assault against a third woman, between April 2021 and June 2022.

The 32-year-old sat in the dock at Westminster Magistrates’ Court dressed in black during the brief hearing and spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address.

Prosecutor Jocelyn Ledward said that two of the charges Partey faces relate to him allegedly anally raping one complainant during consensual sex on separate occasions.

Three further charges relate to a second woman whom Partey is accused of raping on three occasions, twice in Britain and once in Spain.

He was not asked to enter pleas to any of the charges. Partey was granted bail ahead of his next court appearance at London’s Old Bailey court on September 2. His lawyer previously said in a statement that Partey denies the charges and welcomes the opportunity to clear his name.

Partey was signed by Arsenal from Atletico Madrid for 50 million euros ($57.7 million) in 2020 and became a key member of the English side’s first team, making 52 appearances in all competitions last season.

He was first arrested in July 2022, though he was not named at the time and continued to play for Arsenal while investigations were ongoing. His contract with the Premier League club expired last month.

British media have reported Partey is close to joining Spanish side Villarreal on a free transfer and Judge Paul Goldspring said during Tuesday’s hearing that Partey would soon be moving to Spain.

-Reuters

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 Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has said he is prepared to reintegrate the club’s exiled players into his squad if they cannot be sold for fees that match the valuations expected by the former Premier League champions.

Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho, Antony and Tyrell Malacia have been excluded from the squad that has travelled to the United States for the club’s pre-season tour with the quartet seeking transfers away from Old Trafford.

But while they have had to work separately from the first team squad since United returned for training ahead of the new season, Amorim acknowledged he would be prepared to accept the players back into his squad should they not be sold.

“Some players have to find a new place to have more space in the team and other players clearly show they want a new challenge and want new teams,” Amorim told reporters in Chicago ahead of Saturday’s pre-season meeting with West Ham United.

“We are just allowing these players to have time to think and to decide. If we reach a point where they have to join the team, they will join the team because they are our players.

“I’m ready to receive the players. They have more competition, more competition if you want to play in the World Cup next year, you need to play.

“So I’m really happy with that because I have more options. If they have to fight each other to play, for me it’s perfect.”

United have signed Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo so far in the transfer window, while England winger Marcus Rashford has left to join Barcelona on loan as Amorim’s side looks to bounce back from a lowly 15th place finish in last year’s league table.

The club’s financial situation is such that United need to sell players if they want to add to their squad. Chief Executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox are charged with finding buyers for their “bomb squad”.

“I know for a fact these people – Jason, Omar and the club – have a number for these players,” said Amorim. “If they don’t reach that, they will be Manchester United players, no doubt about that.

“I understand the (interested) clubs are waiting for the last minute but they can have a surprise.

-Reuters

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Thomas Partey, who formerly played for English Premier League soccer club Arsenal, has been charged with rape and sexual assault, London’s Metropolitan Police said on Friday.

Partey, a Ghana international, was charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, with the charges relating to three women and the offences reported to have taken place between 2021 and 2022, the statement said.

Partey’s management did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

He is due to appear at London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Aug. 5.

Partey, 32, was signed by Arsenal from Atletico Madrid for 50 million euros ($59 million) in October 2020 and became a key member of Arsenal’s first team.

He was first arrested in July 2022, though he was not named at the time and continued to play for Arsenal while investigations were ongoing.

-Reuters

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