Current Villarreal and ex-Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey could face England when his nation of Ghana take on the Three Lions at next months World Cup when they clash at the Gillette Stadium in Boston
A former Premier League midfielder looks set to face England at the World Cup next month despite facing charges of rape and sexual assault in the UK.
Thomas Partey, who played for current Premier League champions Arsenal, has been named in Ghana’s 28-man preliminary squad heading to the US.
If selected, Partey could face England in Boston at Gillette Stadium on June 23 despite facing trail for the accusations in 2027.
Partey, 32, was charged with five counts of rape and one of sexual assault last year. However, two new counts of rape were added to the charges in February this year.
Now playing in Spain with Villarreal after leaving the Gunners, Partey pleaded not guilty went he attended court to face the charges.
Partey has been back on a UK football since he left Arsenal with Villarreal playing against Gunners rivals Tottenham in the Champions League last year.
He was originally due to face the charges in a trial at Southwark Crown Court in November this year. However, Mr Justice Bennathan agreed to a delay and ordered that the trial – due to last up to eight weeks – will now start on June 8 in 2027.
The Ghanaian faces allegation of rape and sexual assault by four different women, who accuse him over incidents between 2020 and 2022.
In February this year, it was announced that Partey had been charged with two additional rape allegations dating back to December 2020.
The footballer has appeared previously in the dock to plead not guilty to all charges – seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.
The midfielder, who previously lived in Potters Bar in Hertfordshire, joined Arsenal from Atletico Madrid in 2020 in a transfer worth around £45 million, before he left the club in June last year.
It had been expected he would face England in the World Cup this summer, having been an integral part of the Ghana national side over the years and no restrictions placed on his travel.
Partey is currently on bail during the legal proceedings, with a condition that he does not contact alleged victims.
The next hearing in his case has been set for October 2.