Former Premier League striker is arrested on suspicion of alleged sexual assault – as he is held at a police station in Valencia overnight and misses training

Former Wolves striker Rafa Mir has been arrested on suspicion of alleged sexual assault.

The 27-year-old player was arrested last night and failed to show up for training this morning with LaLiga club Valencia, where he is currently on loan from Sevilla.

The Guardia Civil confirmed that a LaLiga footballer had been arrested, but denied reports in the Spanish media that a second man is currently in custody.

A Valencia police spokesman said: ‘We can confirm that a LaLiga footballer has been arrested for alleged sexual assault.

‘No one has been arrested at this time, but that could change later.’

Mir (right, pictured with Bruno Lage in 2021), 27, was on the books at Wolves from 2018 to 2021

Mir was detained last night and did not attend training with LaLiga club Valencia this morning

He added: “The man who has been arrested is currently in police custody.”

A source close to the investigation said: ‘Under Spanish law, the police have 72 hours from the moment of his arrest to hold him before releasing him or handing him over to a judge, who has the right to question him further before deciding in principle whether to release him on bail or keep him in custody pending the ongoing investigation.

“The arrest took place last night.”

The Guardia Civil has not provided information about the type of sexual abuse that may have taken place or whether the women claim they were raped.

Sources close to the ongoing investigation have told Spanish radio station Ser that Mir and another man have been arrested for an alleged sexual offence against two women aged around 25 at the footballer’s home.

The pair are currently being held at a police station in Valencia.

Football club Valencia said in a statement: ‘With regard to the press reports about the arrest of Valencia CF player Rafa Mir, the club is aware of the arrest and, in the absence of further details, can only report for the time being that it will fully cooperate with everything the courts demand of it.’

Spanish media report that the alleged assault took place during a private party at the footballer’s home.

Cadena Ser said local police were initially called to the house to deal with reports of a possible scuffle and break up the party, before leaving.

It was not clear today whether the sex crime allegations were made while officers were at the home or after they left.

The women who claim to have been sexually abused are reportedly 21 and 25 years old.

Sources at Valencia FC have said they want to wait and see how the ongoing investigation into Rafa Mir develops before making a decision on his future.

He has not yet been charged with a crime. Formal charges are normally filed in Spain just before the trial, after a lengthy judicial investigation by an investigating judge.

Spain’s Guardia Civil later confirmed that a LaLiga footballer had been arrested

Mir (center) has played for several clubs in his career, including another LaLiga club in Seville

Mir, full name Rafael Mir Vicente, won the 2019 European Championship with the Spain under-21 football team and a silver medal with the Olympic team at the 2020 tournament.

In January 2018, he signed a four-and-a-half-year contract with Wolves and took the number 9 shirt, working alongside former Valencia manager Nuno Espirito Santo.

During his time at Wolves he was loaned to Las Palmas and Nottingham Forest before leaving the club for good in August 2021 when he signed a six-year contract with Sevilla.

In July he returned to his boyhood club Valencia on loan.