Ghana have included midfielder Thomas Partey in their provisional 28-man squad for next month’s World Cup, despite the player facing criminal charges in the United Kingdom.
The 32-year-old, who now plays for Villarreal CF, is due to stand trial next year after pleading not guilty to seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.
The allegations involve four women and relate to incidents said to have taken place between 2020 and 2022.
Partey left Arsenal F.C. in 2025 after five seasons in north London. He was charged shortly after his contract expired and later joined Villarreal in Spain.
The midfielder has remained a key figure for Ghana national football team during their World Cup qualifying campaign and has earned 58 international caps.
