Former Arsenal midfielder and Ghana international Thomas Partey has been officially charged with multiple counts of rape and sexual assault in the United Kingdom, according to a statement released by London’s Metropolitan Police.
Partey faces five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, involving three different women, with the alleged incidents said to have occurred between 2021 and 2022.
The 31-year-old footballer is scheduled to appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London on August 5.
Partey joined Arsenal from Atlético Madrid in October 2020 for €50 million ($59 million) and quickly became a key figure in the Premier League side’s midfield.
He was first arrested in July 2022, although his identity was not publicly disclosed at the time, and he continued playing for Arsenal as investigations proceeded.
The news has sent shockwaves through the football world, raising fresh questions about player conduct and club responsibilities during ongoing investigations.
