Ghanaian football player, Thomas Partey, has been charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, days after his contract with Arsenal Football Club expired.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced that the 32-year-old ex-Arsenal player will now appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on Tuesday, August 5, 2025.
The allegations relate to three separate women who reported incidents which took place between 2021 and 2022.
The case had initially been reported in July 2022 since an unnamed Premier League international was arrested, but since he wasn’t charged, he could not be named. Now, with Mr Partey officially charged, the media can publish his name.
Ms Jaswant Narwal, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “The Crown Prosecution Service has today authorised the prosecution of Thomas Partey for multiple counts of rape – after carefully reviewing a comprehensive file of evidence.”
“Our prosecutors have worked closely with officers in the Metropolitan Police who have carried out the investigation, to review the evidence and advise on the appropriate charges.
“We remind everyone that criminal proceedings are active, and the defendant has the right to a fair trial.
“We know there will be significant public interest in this announcement, but it is absolutely vital that there is no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings,” she said as per The Telegraph.
With this development, Arsenal is facing intense criticism for continue playing the midfielder for almost three years in full knowledge of an investigation.
He joins a series of footballers who have been officially charged for sexually related crimes like Mason Greenwood formerly of Manchester United and Benjamin Mendy, formerly of Manchester City.
Unlike Arsenal, Manchester United suspended Mr Greenwood immediately on full pay after he was arrested in January 2022 following allegations surrounding material which was published online. Charges against the former England international including attempted rape and assault were dropped on February 2, 2023.
In Mr Mendy’s case, after he was charged with rape and sexual assault in August 2021, the club suspended the Frenchman without pay until he left the club in June 2023. He later sued and was able to get a considerable amount of his wages.