Ghanaian international and former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has been officially charged with multiple sexual offences by the Metropolitan Police Service in the United Kingdom.

According to a statement released by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), the charges follow the submission of a file of evidence by detectives.

The CPS confirmed that the 32-year-old footballer is facing five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, related to alleged incidents that occurred between 2021 and 2022.

“The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised the Metropolitan Police Service to charge a man after a file of evidence was submitted by detectives,” the statement read.

“The Met has issued a charge and requisition to Thomas Partey, 32 (13/06/1992), of Hertfordshire.”

This marks a significant development in a case that has long hovered over Partey’s name, with earlier public allegations circulating widely on social media but not resulting in formal charges—until now.

At the time, speculation and backlash, particularly among football fans, created a cloud over the midfielder’s image and Arsenal Football Club, though no legal action had been taken.

Partey recently became a free agent after his contract with Arsenal expired on June 30, officially ending his five-year stint with the English Premier League side.

He joined Arsenal from Atlético Madrid in 2020 in a deal reported to be worth £45 million.

With the charges now formally filed, Partey is expected to face legal proceedings in the coming months.

He is currently available on a free transfer, but it remains to be seen how these serious legal issues will affect his professional future.