LONDON (AP) — Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has been charged with five counts of rape, British police said Friday.
Partey has also been charged on one count of sexual assault, with the alleged offenses taking place from 2021-22.
His lawyer Jenny Wiltshire said he denies all the charges and, “He now welcomes the opportunity to finally clear his name.”
The 32-year-old Partey is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Aug. 5.
Police said the investigation was opened in February 2022 when it first received a report of rape.
The five rape charges relate to two different women. The sexual assault charge relates to a third woman.
“Our priority remains providing support to the women who have come forward,” Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy of the Metropolitan Police said. “We would ask anyone who has been impacted by this case, or anyone who has information, to speak with our team.”
Ghana international Partey is a free agent after his Arsenal contract expired at the end of last season. He joined the Premier League club in 2020 for 45.3 million pounds ($61.8 million) from Spanish team Atletico Madrid.
He won the Spanish title and the Europa League during his time at Atletico and was part of an Arsenal team that finished runner up in each of the last three Premier League seasons.
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FILE - Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey runs with the ball against Everton during the first half of a pre-season friendly soccer match, Saturday, July 16, 2022, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Morez Johnson Jr. scored a career-high 29 points, including 17 in the first half, and No. 2 Michigan beat No. 24 Southern California 96-66 on Friday night.
Roddy Gayle Jr. added 12 points for the Wolverines (13-0, 3-0 Big Ten), and Will Tschetter, Trey McKenney and L.J. Cason each scored 10.
Michigan is off to its best start since it won 17 straight games to start the 2018-19 season.
Jaden Brownell scored 16 points and Erza Ausar added 15 for the Trojans (12-2, 1-2), whose only previous loss was by eight points against Washington on Dec. 6. Chad Baker-Mazara, who came into the game averaging 21 points, was hampered by early foul trouble and finished with 12 points on 3-of-11 shooting.
Michigan starting guard Nimari Burnett was helped from the court with 16:25 left after falling during a battle under the basket. He went down to the floor and appeared to be bleeding above his eyebrow and holding his ankle. He sat on the bench the rest of the night.
The Wolverines bolted out to an 11-0 lead thanks to a defense that forced six early turnovers. USC got within five points twice in the first half and Michigan responded with a 32-19 run to build a 49-31 halftime advantage.
USC got no closer the rest of the way.
USC: At No. 9 Michigan State on Monday.
Michigan: Visits Penn State on Tuesday.
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Michigan center Aday Mara, front, drives against Southern California center Gabe Dynes, back, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
