A former Premier League and England international footballer has been arrested on suspicion of attempted rape and subsequently released on bail, police confirmed.
Authorities detained the player last Sunday at London’s Stansted Airport. He was stopped by a border control unit at a passport checkpoint before boarding a flight.
Essex Police then transported him to a local station for processing. There, officers took his fingerprints, a DNA sample, and a photograph.
The arrest followed an allegation made by his former partner. She accused him of raping her during their relationship.
After several hours in custody, the individual was released. He is now on bail until late February 2026 as investigations continue.
“A man was arrested on suspicion of attempted rape and has been released on bail until a date in late February 2026, as we continue with our investigations,” Essex Police said in a statement.
The player’s identity has not been released due to legal restrictions. He reportedly represented England at the international level between 2000 and 2010.