The Old Bailey hearing for former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has been postponed from today until 15 September, with no reason provided for the delay.
This rescheduling places his court appearance just one day before his current club Villarreal travels to face Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League on 16 September.
The 32-year-old Ghanaian international faces serious criminal charges whilst continuing his professional football career in Spain.
The timing of the rescheduled hearing creates a challenging situation, with Partey potentially appearing in court on Monday before his team plays at the north London stadium on Tuesday evening.
Thomas Partey recently left Arsenal after his contract expired | GettyPartey faces five rape charges involving two women and a sexual assault charge concerning a third woman.
The alleged offences occurred between 2021 and 2022 during his time at Arsenal.
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According to prosecutor Jocelyn Ledward KC, one charge represents "a multi-incident allegation which occurred between 19th April 2021 and 19th June 2021" involving "at least four occasions".
Six allegations specifically concern anal rape, with two relating to the first alleged victim.
The Metropolitan Police first received a rape allegation report in February 2022.
Partey underwent questioning about the initial allegation in July 2022 and participated in a voluntary interview concerning the second allegation on 7 November 2024.
Thomas Partey has denied all the charges
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Partey joined Villarreal after his Arsenal contract ended on 30 June, with charges filed four days later.
His arrival in Spain prompted significant backlash, including a petition from supporters attempting to block the transfer.
The midfielder received boos and whistles during his debut against Oviedo and has since made three substitute appearances in La Liga.
His upcoming return to north London for the Champions League fixture is expected to generate a particularly hostile atmosphere, given his former association with Tottenham's rivals Arsenal.
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Arsenal Supporters Against Sexual Violence members protested outside court at the midfielder's last appearance
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Villarreal president Fernando Roig defended the signing, stating: "The player is currently undergoing legal proceedings. He maintains his innocence and denies the charges against him."
Partey appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court last month before being granted bail with specific restrictions. He must not contact the three alleged victims and is required to inform police of any permanent address changes or international travel plans.
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Through his lawyer Jenny Wiltshire, Partey "denies all the charges against him" and reportedly welcomes "the opportunity to finally clear his name".
The adjournment enables him to fulfil international duties with Ghana, who face Chad on Thursday and Mali on Monday in World Cup qualifiers.