Former Arsenal footballer Thomas Partey charged with rape

Former Arsenal footballer Thomas Partey has been charged with raping two women.

Police in London said the midfielder faces five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault following alleged offences between 2021 and 2022.

The Ghanaian international was charged four days after leaving the north London club, with his contract having expired on Monday.

The sexual assault allegation relates to a third woman, police added.

The force said it first received reports of an allegation of rape in February 2022.

Partey, 32, of Hertfordshire, is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 5 August.

He was signed by Arsenal from Atletico Madrid for €50m in October 2020 and became a key member of the first team.

He was first arrested in July 2022, though he was not named at the time and continued to play for Arsenal while investigations were ongoing.

Additional reporting Reuters