A few days ago, Ghanaian midfielder Thomas Partey was officially charged with six counts of offenses against women and is now expected to appear at the Westminster Magistrates’ Court on August 5, 2025.
This development comes just days after his contract with Arsenal FC expired, marking the end of his five-year stint with the London club.
The charges are tied to alleged incidents involving three different women between 2021 and 2022, during Partey’s time at Arsenal. Although Partey had been arrested back in 2022, legal restrictions at the time meant he could not be named publicly. Still, speculation ran rife, especially after one alleged victim—who identified as his ex-girlfriend—shared her account on social media.
As a result, Partey faced public backlash, including jeers from fans at games and pressure from women’s groups calling for his suspension. Arsenal, however, chose not to suspend him, a decision that has now drawn significant criticism.
While clubs like Manchester City (Benjamin Mendy), Manchester United (Mason Greenwood), and Everton FC (Gylfi Sigurdsson) moved swiftly to suspend their players under similar circumstances, Arsenal maintained Partey’s innocence until proven guilty. In their defense, the club claimed it had no legal ground to act otherwise.
Interestingly, reports suggest Arsenal were still considering offering Partey a new contract this summer, but it was the player who turned down the terms, leading to his exit at the end of June. An Arsenal spokesperson later said:
“The player’s contract ended on June 30. Due to ongoing legal proceedings, the club is unable to comment on the case.”
The Case Timeline
The legal investigation began in February 2022, when police received an initial report. After nearly three years of investigation, in January 2025, the Metropolitan Police passed their evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which has now pressed six charges. Partey’s legal team has denied all accusations, emphasizing that the player has cooperated fully throughout the investigation and is determined to clear his name.
According to reports, Partey has been arrested multiple times and bailed seven times during the period between 2022 and 2025.
What This Means for His Career
At 32 years old, Thomas Partey is now a free agent and not under contract with any club. In theory, he is free to sign for any team that would have him—but that’s where the real challenge lies.
Due to the severity of the charges, it is likely that the courts will not permit him to relocate abroad until the legal process is complete. If this is accurate, it effectively rules out a move to clubs outside England, such as in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, or even Europe—at least for now.
And within England? No Premier League club is likely to consider signing him under this cloud. Championship or lower-tier clubs might be his only domestic options, and even that seems improbable given the PR storm that would follow.
His case differs from those of Mendy and Greenwood in one critical way: they were still under contract when the allegations surfaced. Partey, on the other hand, is now a free agent—yet that doesn’t simplify things. The stigma, legal complications, and media attention make him a risky proposition for any club.
And time is not on his side.
Unlike Greenwood, who was in his early 20s during his ordeal, Partey will be 34 or older by the time any resolution may come. That’s near retirement age in professional football—especially for a player with a known injury history. Even if acquitted, his top-level career is likely over.
What Happens Next?
There are a few possible outcomes:
- If found guilty: Partey could face significant jail time, and his football career would undoubtedly be over.
- If acquitted or charges dropped: He may attempt a comeback, but it’s highly unlikely any top club would touch him. His most likely destinations would be clubs in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, or less prominent European leagues—perhaps a side like Olympique Marseille.
However, even those opportunities might not materialize, depending on how long the legal process drags on.
Conclusion
It’s impossible to say how this will all unfold, but based on historical precedent—like the Benjamin Mendy or Dani Alves cases—this could be a long, drawn-out legal process. Mendy was only fully acquitted two years after his arrest. Alves, who was arrested in early 2023, did not see his conviction overturned until March 2025.
In the end, only time and the courts will tell. But at this point, it’s fair to say that Thomas Partey’s career, at the top level, may already be over.
Whatever the outcome, the most important thing is that justice is served, both for the alleged victims and for the accused.
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