Arsenal break silence after Thomas Partey is charged with five counts of rape just five days after leaving the club

Arsenal football club have broken their silence after former midfielder Thomas Partey was charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, just days after his contract at the club expired.

In a short statement issued to the BBC, the club said: ‘The player’s contract ended on June 30. Due to ongoing legal proceedings the club is unable to comment on the case.’

The 32-year-old Ghana international, who spent five seasons in north London, is accused of attacking three women between 2021 and 2022 following a three-year investigation by Scotland Yard.

He is now due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on August 5.

Partey, who was signed by Arsenal for £45million from Atletico Madrid in 2020, denies all the charges against him.

In a statement released through his lawyer Jenny Wiltshire of Hickman and Rose, Partey said he ‘welcomes the opportunity to finally clear his name’ and has ‘fully cooperated with the police and CPS throughout their investigation’.

The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed that the charges were authorised after it ‘carefully reviewed a comprehensive file of evidence’.

According to the Metropolitan Police, two counts of rape relate to one woman, three counts of rape relate to a second woman, and the sexual assault charge relates to a third woman. None of the alleged victims can be named for legal reasons.

The investigation began in February 2022, with Partey first arrested in July of that year, though he was not publicly named at the time and continued to play for Arsenal while on bail. It has since emerged that he made over 50 appearances for the club during the period in which the investigation was ongoing.

Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy, who is leading the investigation, said: ‘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 left Arsenal last month following the expiry of his contract, with reports suggesting negotiations over a new deal had stalled weeks earlier. The midfielder has been training in Ghana as he looks for a new club and recently won the Ghana Footballer of the Year award.

He made 167 appearances for Arsenal, scoring nine goals, and was part of the side that won the Community Shield in 2023. Despite injury setbacks, Partey returned to feature regularly last season as Mikel Arteta’s side finished second in the Premier League and reached the Champions League semi-finals.