Thomas Partey in line to face England at the World Cup after being named in Ghana's preliminary squad – despite being due to stand trial in the UK on rape and sexual assault charges

Thomas Partey is on course to go head-to-head against England at the World Cup this summer after being named in Ghana’s preliminary squad, despite being due to stand trial in the UK on charges of rape and sexual assault. 

The former Arsenal midfielder, who left the UK last August to join Villarreal on a free transfer, is one of the 28 players included in Carlos Queiroz’s initial squad as Ghana gear up to face Wales in a pre-tournament friendly in Cardiff on June 2.

Shortly after leaving the Emirates, the 32-year-old Ghanaian was charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, before two further counts of rape were added in February. 

Partey, who has pleaded not guilty, was originally due to stand trial at Southwark Crown Court in November last year.

But earlier this month, British High Court Judge Mr Justice Bennathan agreed to a delay and ordered that the trial will now start on June 8, 2027. It is understood the trial will last approximately eight weeks.

It was confirmed by Ghana’s FA on Monday that Partey, who travelled back to the UK to face Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League in London last September, will be part of the country’s training camp in Cardiff ahead of next week’s game.

Partey is due to stand trial in the UK on charges of rape and sexual assault in June next year

Should Partey make the final 23-man squad, he would face Thomas Tuchel’s England in Boston when the two sides meet for a Group L clash at Gillette Stadium on June 23.

The alleged offences date from April 2021 to June 2022, when Partey was playing for Arsenal, and the midfielder was charged just four days after his contract at the north London club expired last summer.

Partey was booed by fans when he made his Villarreal debut in the wake of the charges, just days after club president Fernando Roig came out with a defiant defence of the former Arsenal star.

He was then hit with two additional charges of raping another woman in December 2020 back in February, which prompted yet another denial from the footballer.

Partey’s defence lawyer, Jenny Wiltshire, said of the new charges: ‘Thomas Partey continues to deny all charges against him. He has cooperated with the police throughout.

‘Given there are ongoing legal proceedings, there will be no further comment.’

Other notable footballers in Ghana’s preliminary 28-man squad include Manchester City’s Antoine Semenyo, Athletic Bilbao’s Inaki Williams and former Premier League striker Jordan Ayew.