Thomas Partey, former Arsenal footballer, charged with five counts of rape

Former Arsenal footballer Thomas Partey has been charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, London's Metropolitan Police said on Friday. The offences are reported to have taken place between 2021-2022, the Metropolitan Police said.

The charges involve three women with two counts of rape relating to one woman, three counts of rape in connection to a second woman and one count of sexual assault linked to a third woman, according to a BBC report. He is due to appear at London's Westminster Magistrates' Court on Aug. 5.

The Met Police say an investigation by detectives commenced in February 2022 after they first received a report of rape.


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Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy, whose team is leading the investigation, commented: "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. You can contact detectives about this investigation by emailing CIT@met.police.uk."

The 32-year-old's contract with Arsenal ended on Monday after playing with the team since 2020. The charges follow an investigation by detectives, which started in February 2022 after police first received a report of rape.

Thomas Partey, a resident of Hertfordshire, is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, 5 August.

Partey signed with Arsenal from Atlético Madrid in October 2020 for £45.3 million. In the most recent Premier League season, he featured in 35 matches and scored four goals, helping the club secure a second-place finish.

He also played 12 matches in the Champions League, contributing to Arsenal's run to the semi-finals, where they were ultimately eliminated by eventual champions Paris Saint-Germain.

Since joining the Gunners, Partey has made 130 Premier League appearances under manager Mikel Arteta, scoring a total of nine goals.

In addition to his club career, Partey has represented Ghana at the international level.

Thomas Partey denies rape charges

Lawyers for Partey, 32, said in a statement he "denies all the charges against him".

"He has fully cooperated with the police and CPS throughout their three-year investigation," lawyer Jenny Wiltshire told AFP "He now welcomes the opportunity to finally clear his name. "Given that there are now ongoing legal proceedings, my client is unable to comment further," she added.

Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy, whose team is leading the investigation, said their priority was providing "support to the women who have come forward".

And he urged anyone "impacted by the case" or "who has information" to contact police.

(With inputs from Reuters and AFP)