Arsenal approved Premier League decision to include Thomas Partey on 2025-26 trading cards as out-of-contract midfielder faces several rape charges

Per The Athletic, Arsenal approved the inclusion of Partey in the latest set of Topps trading cards for the new season. That is despite the fact that Partey has been charged by the Crown Prosecution Service with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. Partey denies the allegations.

Arsenal were in talks to hand the Ghana international a new contract in June but they pulled out of talks and he eventually left the club as a free agent. Four days after his departure, the CPS announced they had charged Partey. He will appear in court on August 5.

Because Arsenal have approved the trading card, Partey will be a collectible, as fans aim to pack every player in the Premier League. Topps have told The Athletic that decisions were made over the players to include based on multiple factors, including minutes played the season prior. Partey was approved as an included player in May, at a time when the police were conducting an investigation into him that Arsenal were aware of.

It is impossible for Arsenal or the Premier League to retract approval for Partey's inclusion because they have already been produced, and are in packs across the country.