EX-ARSENAL star Thomas Partey has pleaded not guilty to raping women at his £6million mansion and a five-star Spanish hotel.
The Ghanaian midfielder, 32, also denied sexually assaulting a third woman by laying on top of her and trying to kiss her.
The alleged offences date from April 2021 to June 2022, when he was playing for Arsenal. He was charged four days after his contract expired in July.
He appeared to give a thumbs up when he stepped out of a black Mercedes people carrier outside Southwark crown court, around 40 minutes before his hearing.
His plea also came just hours after he was booed by Spurs fans when he played for his new team Villarreal in a Champions League clash. He lost 1-0.
He spoke first to confirm his name and date of birth. He stood up and looked ahead as he pleaded not guilty to all six counts.
Judge Christopher Hehir set the trial date for 2nd November 2026 for an estimated six to eight weeks.
He told Partey it was a "long way in advance" and blamed the "huge backlog of cases".
He added: "You have the benefit of bail. You're essentially in a queue behind people waiting in prison to be tried."
He told him it was very important to stay in regular contact with his solicitors, and warned him that he must turn up for his trial next year.
Partey is accused of three counts of rape against one woman, two counts against a second and one count of sexual assault against a third woman.
Partey appeared to wear the same black quarter zip and navy blazer from his last appearance at Westminster magistrates' court.
JPs previously heard he allegedly raped one woman three times at his mansion in Arkley, Hertfordshire.
The fifth charge relates to an alleged incident at the luxury NOBU hotel in Marbella in summer 2022, during the Premier League's off-season.
Partey joined Arsenal on a £45million deal in 2020, after years of success wih Atletico Madrid.
He was awarded Ghana footballer of the year for the third time earlier this year, after making 52 appearances in his last season with Arsenal.
When signing Partey, Villarreal said it "respects the fundamental presumption of innocence and will await the outcome of the judicial process, which will be responsible for clarifying the facts".
