Former Arsenal and Ghana international footballer Thomas Partey has been charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, according to the Metropolitan Police.
The alleged offences, which involve three different women, are said to have occurred between 2021 and 2022. Two counts of rape relate to one woman, three counts to a second, and one count of sexual assault involves a third woman.
Partey, 32, had his contract with Arsenal officially expire on Monday, bringing an end to his four-year stint with the Premier League club. The BBC has contacted Arsenal for a statement regarding the charges.
The charges follow a police investigation launched in February 2022, when authorities first received a report of rape.
Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy, who is leading the case, said: “Our priority remains providing support to the women who have come forward.
We would ask anyone who has been impacted by this case, or anyone who has information, to speak with our team.”
Anyone wishing to contact detectives can do so via email at CIT@met.police.uk.
Mr Partey, who resides in Hertfordshire, is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 5 August.
Partey joined Arsenal from Atlético Madrid in October 2020 in a £45.3 million move. During his time with the North London club, he made 130 Premier League appearances and scored nine goals.
He featured 35 times in the 2023–24 Premier League season, netting four goals, and played a key role in Arsenal’s Champions League campaign, which ended in the semi-finals against eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain. He has also been a regular member of Ghana’s national team throughout his career.
