Former Arsenal and Ghana international midfielder Thomas Partey has been charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault after the Crown Prosecution Service authorised London’s Metropolitan Police to proceed with the case on Friday. According to police, the allegations involve three women and date from 2021 to 2022, when Partey was playing for Arsenal. Two counts of rape concern one woman, three counts relate to a second, and the sexual-assault charge involves a third. Detectives began their investigation in February 2022. Partey, 32, who lives in Hertfordshire, is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 5 August. His lawyer, Jenny Wiltshire, said the player “denies all the charges” and is cooperating fully with authorities as he seeks to clear his name. The midfielder’s contract with Arsenal expired on 30 June, four days before the charges were filed. Signed from Atlético de Madrid for about £45 million in 2020, Partey made 167 appearances for the North London club. Arsenal said it cannot comment while legal proceedings are active, but critics have questioned the club’s decision to select him while the investigation was ongoing. The CPS urged caution in public commentary to avoid prejudicing the case, while police said their priority remains supporting the women who have come forward and appealed for anyone with additional information to contact investigators.