Footballer Thomas Partey dey charged with rape

Former Arsenal footballer Thomas Partey don dey charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.

Reports say di offences dey reported to don take place between 2021-2022, di Metropolitan Police tok.

Di charges involve three women with two counts of rape relating to one woman, three counts of rape in connection to a second woman and one count of sexual assault linked to a third woman.

Di Ghanaian international don deny di charges and "welcome di opportunity to finally clear im name", im lawyer tok.

Di 32-year-old contract with Arsenal end on Monday after playing with di team since 2020.

BBC News don contact Arsenal, the football association. Di Premier League no gree comment.

Di charges follow one investigation by detectives, wey start for February 2022 after police first receive a report of rape.

Det Supt Andy Furphy, wey im team dey lead di investigation, say: "Our priority remain providing support to di women wey don come forward.

"We go ask anyone wey don dey impacted by dis case, or anyone wey get information, to speak with our team."

Mr Partey of Hertfordshire dey set to appear for Westminster Magistrates Court on Tuesday 5 August.

Inside statement, im lawyer Jenny Wiltshire say: "Thomas Partey deny all di charges against am.

"E don fully cooperate with di police and CPS throughout dia three-year investigation.

"Now, e welcome di opportunity to finally clear im name.

"Sake of say now legal proceedings don dey ongoing, my client no go fit to comment further."

Partey join Arsenal for £45.3m from Atletico Madrid for October 2020, e make 35 top-flight appearances last season and score four goals as di London club finish second for di Premier League.

E also play 12 times for di Champions League as di Gunners reach di semi-finals before dem dey knocked out by di eventual winners Paris St-Germain.

Overall, e make 130 Premier League appearances for Mikel Arteta side, scoring nine goals.

Partey dey also play for di Ghana national team, di Black Stars.

E play recently for di World Cup qualification matches for March.