Former Arsenal footballer Thomas Partey is to deny two new allegations of rape, a court has heard.
The 32-year-old was charged last month with two counts of raping a woman on a date in December 2020. It followed five other charges of rape and sexual assault against separate complainants last year.
Partey was excused from attending a preliminary hearing for the new charges at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday.
However, his barrister Emma Fenn indicated he intended to plead not guilty to both counts at a crown court hearing, set for 10 April.
The Ghanaian midfielder, who plays for Spanish club Villarreal, was charged last year with five counts of rape against two women and sexual assault against a third alleged victim, following a Metropolitan Police investigation.