Former Atlético Madrid and Arsenal player Thomas Partey has been charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.

Former Arsenal player Thomas Partey has been charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault by the British Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), British media reported.

According to Sky News, the rape and sexual assault charges, filed by three women , relate to events that occurred between 2021 and 2022.

Jaswant Narwal of the prosecution said the charge against Partey was authorized after a "careful investigation of the evidence gathered."

"Our officers have worked with the Metropolitan Police officers conducting the investigation to review the evidence and take appropriate action. We remind everyone that while criminal proceedings are ongoing, the accused has the right to a fair trial. We know this case will be of significant public interest, but it is absolutely vital that no information or comment be made that could prejudice these proceedings," he added.

Partey, 32, joined Arsenal in 2020 from Atlético Madrid for €50 million and has been a regular starter for the team.

The investigation has been ongoing for the past two and a half years , and the indictment was made public three days after Partey's contract with Arsenal ended on July 1.

The Gunners were in talks with the African player about a possible renewal, but they failed to reach an agreement.

In 2022, the British newspaper The Telegraph reported that a Premier League footballer was being investigated for sexual offenses, but British law stipulates that the suspect cannot be mentioned in the media until there is a formal charge.