Former Arsenal football player Thomas Partey has been charged with five counts of rape.

The 32-year-old, of Hertfordshire, has also been charged with one count of sexual assault.

Two of the counts of rape relate to one woman, three counts relate to a second woman, and the one count of sexual assault relates to a third woman.

The incidents are alleged to have taken place between 2021 and 2022.

Metropolitan Police said he is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 5 August.

"The charges follow an investigation by detectives, which commenced in February 2022 after police first received a report of rape," the force said.

Partey has just left Arsenal after his contract expired and was said to be attracting interest from clubs including Juventus, Barcelona and Fenerbahce.

The Ghanaian player was with at the Emirates for five years after signing from Atletico Madrid and has also played dozens of times for his country.

His time with Arsenal was marked by recurring injuries, but he played 35 times last season, scoring four goals.