Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has been charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, a development confirmed by British police and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). These serious charges come just days after the Ghanaian international's contract with Arsenal officially expired on June 30.

The 32-year-old is accused of sexually assaulting three women. According to the CPS, two of the rape charges relate to one woman, three more to a second woman, and the sexual assault charge involves a third woman. The alleged incidents are said to have occurred between 2021 and 2022.

Arsenal Football Club has issued a brief statement regarding the matter. In a message to the BBC, the club stated: “The player’s contract ended on June 30. Due to ongoing legal proceedings the club is unable to comment on the case.” Both the English Football Association and the Premier League have declined to comment.

Partey was initially arrested in July 2022, though his name was not publicly disclosed at the time. Despite being on bail during the extensive three-year investigation by the Metropolitan Police, he continued to play for Arsenal, making over 50 appearances for the club during this period. He joined Arsenal from Atlético Madrid in 2020 for a reported fee of £45 million.

Through his lawyer, Jenny Wiltshire of Hickman & Rose, Thomas Partey has vehemently denied all charges. In a statement, Partey expressed that he “welcomes the opportunity to finally clear his name” and affirmed that he has “fully cooperated with the police and CPS throughout their investigation.”

Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy, who is overseeing the case, emphasized the police’s priority: “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.”

Partey is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on August 5. Following his departure from Arsenal at the end of June, reports indicated that negotiations for a contract extension had stalled. He has since been training in Ghana and recently received the Ghana Footballer of the Year award. During his five-year tenure at the Emirates, Partey made 167 appearances, scored nine goals, and was part of the squad that secured the FA Community Shield in 2023. He featured prominently last season as Arsenal finished second in the Premier League and reached the UEFA Champions League semi-finals. As legal proceedings are now underway, neither Partey nor Arsenal are expected to issue further comment until the upcoming court hearing.