BY Nadia Ntiamoah
Black Stars vice-captain Thomas Partey has joined Ghana’s national team camp for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers after his court case in the United Kingdom was postponed, temporarily clearing the way for him to focus on football.
Partey, 32, was expected at the Old Bailey in London on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, to face trial on multiple charges of rape and sexual assault.
However, the case was adjourned to September 15, granting him a two-week window to link up with his teammates ahead of Ghana’s crucial double-header against Chad and Mali.
The Arsenal midfielder-turned-Villarreal signing is facing five counts of rape involving two women, as well as a charge of sexual assault against a third woman.
British prosecutors allege that the incidents occurred between April 2021 and June 2022 while he was still playing in the Premier League.
The case, which has attracted global attention, is one of the most high-profile criminal proceedings involving a Ghanaian footballer in recent memory.
Despite the legal cloud, Partey’s presence is seen as a significant boost for head coach Otto Addo’s squad.
Ghana travel to N’Djamena to face Chad on Thursday, September 4, before returning to Kumasi to host Mali on Monday, September 8. Both fixtures are considered decisive in the Black Stars’ quest to secure a ticket to the 2026 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
This will be Partey’s first international duty since the charges became public in 2023.
His absence from previous national assignments had fueled speculation over whether he would ever feature for the Black Stars again.
The midfielder’s call-up, despite his ongoing trial, underscores the Ghana Football Association’s belief in his importance to the team’s midfield structure.
Partey recently completed a summer transfer from English Premier League side Arsenal to Spanish outfit Villarreal, ending a five-year stint in London.
The move was widely interpreted as an attempt to revive his career in a less intense spotlight, given the constant media scrutiny he faced in England due to his legal troubles.
