Former Arsenal midfielder Partey named in Ghana squad ahead of World Cup | World Cup 2026 News
Thomas Partey Pleads Not Guilty to Rape Charges Amid World Cup Selection
Ghana’s Thomas Partey, currently with Villarreal after transferring from Arsenal in 2025, has pleaded not guilty to seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault in the United Kingdom.
The 32-year-old midfielder’s legal proceedings are set to commence next year, with allegations stemming from incidents involving four women between 2020 and 2022. Partey was first charged in July 2025, shortly after his Arsenal contract expired. He was released on bail before signing with Villarreal in August.
Despite these serious allegations, Partey has been named in Ghana’s preliminary 28-man squad for the upcoming World Cup next month. He has previously participated in World Cup qualifying matches, amassing 58 caps for the national team.
In a related development, Tottenham Hotspur forward Mohammed Kudus will not participate in the World Cup due to an injury. Kudus, who has netted 13 goals in 46 international appearances, sustained a quad injury in January and has faced setbacks in his recovery. He joined Tottenham from West Ham United in 2025 and has played 19 matches in the Premier League this season, scoring twice.
Ghana’s veteran coach Carlos Queiroz announced the latest squad list, which includes players such as Manchester City’s Antoine Semenyo and Athletic Club’s Inaki Williams. Notably, former Chelsea defender Abdul Rahman Baba has been recalled for the first time since 2023.
Ghana has been drawn into Group L, where they will compete against Croatia, England, and Panama.
Ghana Preliminary World Cup Squad
Goalkeepers:
- Benjamin Asare (Accra Hearts of Oak SC)
- Lawrence Ati-Zigi (St. Gallen)
- Joseph Anang (St. Patrick’s Athletic)
- Solomon Agbasi (Accra Hearts of Oak SC)
- Paul Reverson (Ajax)
Defenders:
- Baba Abdul Rahman (PAOK)
- Gideon Mensah (Auxerre)
- Marvin Senaya (Auxerre)
- Alidu Seidu (Rennes)
- Abdul Mumin (Rayo Vallecano)
- Jerome Opoku (Istanbul Basaksehir)
- Jonas Adjetey (Wolfsburg)
- Kojo Peprah Oppong (Nice)
- Alexander Djiku (Spartak Moscow)
- Elisha Owusu (Auxerre)
Midfielders:
- Thomas Partey (Villarreal)
- Kwasi Sibo (Real Oviedo)
- Augustine Boakye (Saint-Etienne)
- Caleb Yirenkyi (Nordsjaelland)
- Abdul Fatawu Issahaku (Leicester City)
Forwards:
- Kamaldeen Sulemana (Atalanta)
- Christopher Bonsu Baah (Al Qadsiah)
- Ernest Nuamah (Lyon)
- Antoine Semenyo (Manchester City)
- Brandon Thomas-Asante (Coventry City)
- Prince Kwabena Adu (Viktoria Plzen)
- Inaki Williams (Athletic Bilbao)
- Jordan Ayew (Leicester City)
