Thomas Partey is on the right track to go head-to-head in opposition to England on the World Cup this summer season after being named in Ghana’s preliminary squad, regardless of being as a result of stand trial within the UK on expenses of rape and sexual assault.
The previous Arsenal midfielder, who left the UK final August to affix Villarreal on a free switch, is without doubt one of the 28 gamers included in Carlos Queiroz’s preliminary squad as Ghana gear as much as face Wales in a pre-tournament pleasant in Cardiff on June 2.
Shortly after leaving the Emirates, the 32-year-old Ghanaian was charged with 5 counts of rape and one depend of sexual assault, earlier than two additional counts of rape had been added in February.
Partey, who has pleaded not responsible, was initially as a result of stand trial at Southwark Crown Court docket in November final yr.
However earlier this month, British Excessive Court docket Choose Mr Justice Bennathan agreed to a delay and ordered that the trial will now begin on June 8, 2027. It’s understood the trial will final roughly eight weeks.
It was confirmed by Ghana’s FA on Monday that Partey, who travelled again to the UK to face Tottenham Hotspur within the Champions League in London final September, might be a part of the nation’s coaching camp in Cardiff forward of subsequent week’s sport.
Thomas Partey is on the right track to go head-to-head in opposition to England on the World Cup this summer season
Partey is because of stand trial within the UK on expenses of rape and sexual assault in June subsequent yr
Ought to Partey make the ultimate 23-man squad, he would face Thomas Tuchel’s England in Boston when the 2 sides meet for a Group L conflict at Gillette Stadium on June 23.
The alleged offences date from April 2021 to June 2022, when Partey was taking part in for Arsenal, and the midfielder was charged simply 4 days after his contract on the north London membership expired final summer season.
Partey was booed by followers when he made his Villarreal debut within the wake of the costs, simply days after membership president Fernando Roig got here out with a defiant defence of the previous Arsenal star.
He was then hit with two extra expenses of raping one other girl in December 2020 again in February, which prompted yet one more denial from the footballer.
Partey’s defence lawyer, Jenny Wiltshire, stated of the brand new expenses: ‘Thomas Partey continues to disclaim all expenses in opposition to him. He has cooperated with the police all through.
‘Given there are ongoing authorized proceedings, there might be no additional remark.’
Different notable footballers in Ghana’s preliminary 28-man squad embody Manchester Metropolis’s Antoine Semenyo, Athletic Bilbao’s Inaki Williams and former Premier League striker Jordan Ayew.
