In a statement issued Friday, London’s Metropolitan Police announced that Thomas Partey, a Ghanaian international and former midfielder for Arsenal, had been formally charged with many counts of rape and sexual assault in the United Kingdom.
Thomas Partey is charged with five charges of rape and one count of sexual assault. The alleged events, which involve three separate women, are believed to have taken place between 2021 and 2022.
On August 5, the 31-year-old football player is expected to appear in London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
Partey paid €50 million ($59 million) to join Arsenal from Atletico Madrid in October 2020, and he immediately established himself as a vital member of the Premier League team’s midfield. Although his identify was not made public at the time of his initial arrest in July 2022, he continued to play for Arsenal while the inquiry was ongoing.
As investigations continue, the news has shocked the football community and brought up new issues regarding player behaviour and club obligations.
