A former Arsenal star finds himself facing serious charges of rape and sexual assault, just hours after announcing his departure from the London club.
British police issued a statement confirming that Thomas Partey, the former Arsenal player, faces five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, all involving three women. The crimes were reported between 2021 and 2022.
The Ghanaian star is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London on August 5.
This comes as no surprise to many. English media outlets have previously reported Partey’s involvement in these cases, but there has been no confirmation from the police, as he was effectively protected by Arsenal’s management, which prevented the matter from being widely reported.
Party was first arrested in July 2022, released during the investigation, and has continued to play for Arsenal. The 32-year-old announced his departure from Arsenal at the end of his contract last June, removing the club’s security detail. His name was clearly revealed to the media, before his lawyer emerged and confirmed that the allegations were false and that he would be proven innocent in court.
Party joined Arsenal in the summer of 2020 from Atletico Madrid for €50 million. Since then, he has made 167 appearances for the Gunners in all competitions, scoring nine goals and providing seven assists.
