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UCL Hours before a scheduled appearance at Southwark Crown Court for a plea hearing, Thomas Partey returned to north London to face Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League with his new club Villarreal. Partey was charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault on July 4. Partey denies all charges against him and, at the time, his lawyer Jenny Wiltshire said in a statement: “He has fully cooperated with the police and CPS throughout their three-year investigation. He now welcomes the opportunity to finally clear his name. ” Advertisement Since then, he has signed for Villarreal in Spain after leaving his former side Arsenal at the end of his contract on June 30, made his debut in his new colours, and has represented Ghana in World Cup qualifiers. On Wednesday morning, Partey pleaded not guilty to all charges and a trial date was set for November 2, 2026. According to Villarreal head coach Marcelino, the 32-year-old Partey was “mentally prepared” to play in a Champions League tie in England, despite the potential for a hostile reception from the home support at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. “I’m totally convinced that he is mentally prepared, technically prepared, to play the game tomorrow night, ” Marcelino said in his pre-match press conference on Monday night, translated from Spanish to English. “For sure, he’ll be ready. “We are really happy that Thomas is with us for his football capacity and ability, and his presence as a human. He’s a great player with lots of experience. He’s played in some top sides. We know he’s got a great ability and a great level. ” Having made his first start for Villarreal in a 2-0 defeat to his former club Atletico Madrid on Saturday, Partey was dropped to the bench on Tuesday night. Nicolas Pepe, who played with Partey at Arsenal before joining Villarreal from Trabzonspor in 2024, was subjected to a few jeers when his name was read out before the game due to his association with Tottenham’s rivals (Pepe has not been accused of any wrongdoing). Partey’s name was not read out by the announcer in the minutes before kick-off, as is typical for substitutes at a Tottenham match. Partey’s first involvement on the pitch was at half-time, where he warmed up with the substitutes and first-team coaches. As he left the field ahead of the second half, he embraced international team-mate and Tottenham forward Mohammed Kudus with a hug and stopped for a short chat. Advertisement His first experience of what became an uncomfortable night in north London came minutes after play resumed when he stepped out of the Villarreal dugout alongside his team-mates on the touchline. While he was conducting a pitchside warm-up, chants including “Thomas Partey, we know what you are” were directed towards the midfielder throughout the stadium before quietening after a couple of minutes. However, when Marcelino called Partey to form a new midfield pairing alongside Dani Parejo on the 78th minute, the duo replacing Santi Comesana and Pape Gueye, the noise at the stadium reached its loudest point of the night. With Tottenham leading 1-0, all the home sections directed various hostile and graphic chants and jeers towards the player. Jon Champion, the commentator for Amazon Prime’s broadcast, said: “The circumstances here of Thomas Partey’s appearance have been well documented and the reception reflects that. ” It is not the first time Partey has been subjected to such chants in England, nor is he the only player accused of similar offences to receive a hostile reception by Premier League supporters. Every touch Partey took was greeted with a chorus of boos and jeers, which continued until the final whistle. In his relatively short cameo, Partey completed six of nine attempted passes and made one ball recovery. Before heading down the tunnel, he walked over to applaud Villarreal’s small contingent of travelling fans. Partey reappeared on the pitch shortly after heading down the tunnel and completed a warm-down with the substitutes who appeared in the match near a corner of the North Stand. With the stands largely empty, it was a rare moment of quiet. The charges, which relate to three women, are alleged to have taken place between 2021 and 2022. Detectives at the Metropolitan Police began their investigation into Partey in February 2022 when they received a report of alleged rape. Advertisement Partey continued to play for Arsenal, making 167 appearances in all since signing from Atletico Madrid in October 2020 — 52 of those coming last season, including both legs of their Champions League quarter-final victory against then-holders Real Madrid. Before his contract expired in June, Arsenal confirmed that they were in talks with him to extend his stay in north London, but they failed to agree on terms. Four days after departing as a free agent, he was charged by the Crown Prosecution Service. On July 21, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was asked by The Athletic about Partey being charged and whether they played a role in his contract not being extended. “The club was very clear in its statement, ” Arteta said. “There are a lot of legal matters that are very complicated, so I cannot comment on any of that. ” In addition, The Athletic asked Arteta whether he was comfortable and confident that Arsenal had followed the correct processes regarding Partey. “100 per cent, yes, ” he responded. Partey appeared in Westminster Magistrates Court on August 5, where he was granted conditional bail. His bail conditions prohibited contact with his complainants and stated he must inform the police of any permanent changes of address or international travel. Two days later, Partey completed a move to Villarreal, joining on a one-year contract with the option to extend for another 12 months. The Spanish club, who qualified for the Champions League with a fifth-placed La Liga finish in 2024-25, described Partey as “a complete midfielder with great stamina and exceptional physical attributes”. They also noted that they were “aware that the player is currently involved in legal proceedings in England” and that they “respect the fundamental principle of the presumption of innocence and will await the outcome of the judicial process, which will be responsible for clarifying the facts of the case. ” Advertisement Partey made his competitive debut for Villarreal on August 15, coming on from the bench in the 82nd minute in the club’s league opener at home to Real Oviedo. There were no prolonged jeers or banners inside the Estadio de la Ceramica, according to a report by The Guardian. He has now made five appearances for the Spanish side. Asked by The Athletic for comment, Cesar Pena, president of the Villarreal supporters’ club in Villafranca de Barros, Extremadura, said: “It’s a complicated issue because, in football terms, we all agree that it’s a great opportunity. “He’s a top-level player who has proven himself to all Spaniards — for example, in this year’s Champions League tie against Real Madrid. “My personal opinion is the same as that expressed by most fans on social media: I would not agree to sign a player accused of such serious crimes, and I would understand if the fans booed the player on the pitch. “I hope the club takes the fans’ opinion into account, as I believe this is not just a matter of improving the squad. However, whatever the outcome of the trial, if they sign him, most fans will not agree with it, even if he is ultimately found not guilty. ” (Top photo: Henry Nicholls/AFP via Getty Images) Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle Elias Burke is a football writer who regularly covers Tottenham Hotspur. He has previously covered U. S. soccer, West Bromwich Albion and Derby County for The Athletic. Follow Elias on Twitter @Elias Burke