Ex-Arsenal player Thomas Partey to appear in court over rape charges the day before Villarreal's Champions League clash with Tottenham

The former Arsenal midfielder is scheduled to appear at the Old Bailey in London on Monday, September 15th. The date is one day before Villarreal are due to face Spurs in their opening Champions League game of the season at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Partey had initially been due to appear in court on Tuesday, but the case was adjourned to next month without explanation.

Partey has been charged with five counts of rape against two women and was granted bail at the start of August after appearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court. The midfielder denies all the charges against him.

Partey was allowed to move to Spain and join Villarreal under his bail conditions following his summer exit from Arsenal. The transfer has been criticised by a Villarreal supporters' group, and he was also jeered by some fans on his La Liga debut for the Yellow Submarine against Real Oviedo.

Partey was charged by police four days after leaving Arsenal. Villarreal's clash with Arsenal's bitter rivals Tottenham will therefore be the midfielder's first game back in the United Kingdom since he was charged.

Partey is currently on international duty with Ghana and is expected to feature in their next World Cup qualifier on Thursday against Chad.