Thomas Partey intends to plead not guilty to two new rape allegations. This was revealed in court.
Partey, a 32-year-old former Arsenal player, was absent from a court hearing. He was charged last month.
The charges relate to two counts of rape. These alleged incidents happened on a date in December 2020.
Partey is currently playing for Villarreal in Spain. A court filing confirmed his intention to deny the charges.
Details of the alleged attacks were not fully disclosed in the initial hearing. The case will proceed to further legal examination.
The court has set further dates for the legal process. Partey's legal team is preparing his defence.
This new development follows earlier charges against the footballer. The legal proceedings are ongoing.