Former Arsenal footballer Thomas Partey has been charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, London’s Metropolitan Police have said.
The charges relate to three women, and the offences are reported to have taken place between 2021 and 2022.
He is due to appear at London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court on August 5.
Partey, 32, was first arrested in July 2022, though he was not named at the time and continued to play for Arsenal while investigations were ongoing.
The Ghana international spent five seasons at Arsenal after being signed in 2020 for £45m, but is now a free agent after his contract expired on Monday.
Two counts of rape relate to one woman, three counts of rape relate to a second woman and one count of sexual assault relates to a third woman.
“The charges follow an investigation by detectives, which commenced in February 2022 after police first received a report of rape,” according to the Met Police statement.
Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy, whose team is leading the investigation, said: “Our priority remains providing support to the women who have come forward.”
Anyone who has information about the case or has been impacted by it is being asked to contact the Met Police.
