Thomas Partey's UK Court Hearing Postponed Ahead Ghana World Cup Qualifiers

Thomas Partey, Ghana international and Villarreal midfielder, faces serious legal challenges as he is charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault in the UK, with alleged incidents occurring between 2021 and 2022. His scheduled court appearance on September 2, 2025, was adjourned without explanation and rescheduled for September 15, just one day before Villarreal's Champions League match against Tottenham. Despite the ongoing case, Partey has joined Ghana's national team for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and is set to play in their matches against Chad and Mali. Partey denies all charges and his legal team is actively working to clear his name. Villarreal faced criticism and fan backlash for signing Partey amid his legal issues, but the club's president defended the decision. The adjournment allows Partey to focus on his international duties ahead of his potential hostile reception in the UK given his former Arsenal ties.