Former Arsenal player Thomas Partey will appear as an official Premier League trading card this season - despite being unemployed and accused of rape.

Partey's inclusion in the cards manufactured by Topps was approved by Arsenal earlier this season despite the fact they knew he was under investigation, sources have confirmed to Mail Sport. 

Earlier this month, Partey was charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. That was after Arsenal had given the green light for his inclusion. 

The 32-year-old is accused of attacking three women between 2021 and 2022. His charges followed a three-year investigation by Scotland Yard and they arrived just five days after he left Arsenal on June 30. 

He denies the allegations and will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on August 5.

The player list for the next season of Topps cards was finalised in May, when Arsenal were still negotiating over a potential new contract with Partey.

Thomas Partey will feature on the official Premier League trading cards for 2025-26 (as seen on his 2023-24 card)

In the first instance, players are selected based on factors including the minutes they played last campaign, their duration at the club, and whether they play international football.

Arsenal approved Partey as part of their list of stars despite not knowing whether he would be at the club. 

More than 60 players were released by their clubs and Partey is just one of three who remains in the collection, for which production, packaging, and distribution has already started. 

Partey spent five seasons at the Emirates but is now unemployed.

Two counts of rape relate to one woman and three counts of rape relate to a second woman.

The one count of sexual assault relates to a third woman. None of the alleged victims can be named.

The Crown Prosecution Service has said the charges came after it 'carefully reviewed a comprehensive file of evidence'.

Partey 'denies all the charges against him' and 'welcomes the opportunity to finally clear his name', his lawyer said in early July.