EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal star Thomas Partey has been arrested over the rape of two different women but has not been suspended by his world-famous football club and instead been allowed to fly with his teammates to the United States for a preseason tour. The revelations come as fellow Premier League footballer and accused child sex offender, Gylfi Sigurdsson, has been let go by his club Everton who are soon to tour Australia. Serkan Ozturk reports.
Arsenal star Thomas Partey is the anonymous high-profile English Premier League footballer who earlier this month was arrested over alleged numerous rape charges involving two different women, True Crime News Weekly can reveal.
This publication does not have operations in the UK and as such is not precluded in any way by its censorship laws.
It was reported by local UK media in early July that a 29-year old EPL footballer expected to star for their country at the World Cup in Qatar in November had been arrested over rape charges in an early morning raid of their home in the North London suburb of Barnet. Six police units reportedly arrived at the player’s multi-million-pound gated mansion at 3am, while he was asleep, to carry out the arrest.
The alleged victim had told police in London that the footballer had allegedly raped her while they were on holiday in the Mediterranean in June 2022. Partey was in the Spanish city of Marbella last month, with the Mediterranean resort town widely known as “the playground of Europe’s rich and famous.”
A day later, on July 5, the player was again arrested over further allegations relating to a separate woman who had initially come forward to UK Police mid-last year. She has claimed the famous footballer had raped her on two occasions, in August 2021 while overseas, and then again in London in February 2022.
It has since been revealed that Partey’s club were aware of the second woman’s allegations since late 2021.
Thomas Partey posing with a fan in the Mediterranean resort city of Marbella last month when the alleged rape of one woman is said to have taken place (Image: Twitter / Supplied)
After the allegations concerning the arrest of the anonymous footballer went viral across social media and with some armchair internet sleuths naming the Arsenal star midfielder as the party at the centre of the allegations, Partey then took a week off from club duties as his teammates travelled to Germany for a preseason friendly.
Arsenal however have decided not to suspend Partey and have even included the high-profile midfielder in its squad for a preseason tour across the Atlantic.
Further articles in the UK media this week about the until-as-now unnamed player being allowed to travel overseas with their club were timed for publication just as Arsenal led by its manager Mikel Arteta jaunted off for its preseason tour of the United States.
In a statement to UK media, Arsenal this week said it was monitoring the situation and was in regular contact with authorities.
“We are aware of the allegations which are currently the subject of a police investigation,” the football club said in a statement.
“We have confirmed that the player denies the allegations and is on police bail pending the outcome of their enquiries. There have been no charges laid and the player can fulfil his professional commitments including permitted travel.
“We take our commitments and responsibilities seriously and have followed our safeguarding policies and procedures.
“We will keep this matter under close consideration and will review further if circumstances change.”
Arsenal have flown off to a preseason tour of the United States along with midfielder Thomas Partey who was arrested earlier this month over the alleged rape of two different women (Image: Twitter / Supplied)
London’s Metropolitan Police force have said Partey will remain on bail until next month.
“He has subsequently been released on bail to a date in August,” a police spokesperson told UK media. “Enquiries into the circumstances are ongoing.”
Arsenal’s decision not to suspend Partey stands in stark contrast to the actions taken earlier this year by Manchester United over its star English winger, Mason Greenwood.
Greenwood was suspended by the wealthy and powerful EPL club following his arrest on suspicion of rape, assault and threats to kill involving his former girlfriend. Greenwood remains on bail following a hearing in June.
The English Premier League has been beset by rape and child rape allegations and police investigations involving a number of high-profile players.
Yves Bissouma, now of Tottenham, was not suspended by his former club Brighton when he was arrested alongside a man in his 40s under suspicion of sexual assault in the seaside town last October.
Bissouma has since been cleared of the allegation.
Manchester City defender, Benjamin Mendy, who has denied nine sexual offences against six women, played for his club until the moment he was charged by police. Mendy is about to face a criminal trial alongside a friend, Louis Saha Matturie, which is due to commence on July 25.
Meanwhile, Everton have quietly released Icelandic midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson following the end of his contract.
Sigurdsson had not played for the club for over a year after being arrested in July 2021 by UK Police investigating alleged child sexual abuse claims.
Three months ago, it was reported by the UK media – which is still precluded from publicly identifying Sigurdsson – that police had extended the footballer’s bail until July 16.
Everton are due to tour Australia for a series of friendlies in November during the World Cup break.
Be the first to comment