Former England, Newcastle United and Liverpool striker Andy Carroll has revealed publicly for the first time that he was sexually assaulted by a man at his home in 2021, an experience he says caused lasting trauma and affected his ability to concentrate on football.
Carroll disclosed the assault in his new autobiography, Owning It, released in September 2026. The man who assaulted Carroll was subsequently convicted of sexual offenses, sentenced to three years in prison and placed on the sex offenders register. Carroll testified during the criminal case but, as a sexual assault victim, had previously been entitled to anonymity. [AP] [Guardian]
What Did Andy Carroll Reveal?
Carroll revealed that he was sexually assaulted by a male acquaintance in 2021 while he was playing for Newcastle United.
The incident occurred at Carroll’s home during his second spell with his hometown club. The man was a friend of Carroll’s then-partner, who was away at the time. According to Carroll’s account, the man came to his home to watch a boxing match and was expected to stay overnight. [Guardian]
Carroll said he went to sleep and later awoke while the man was sexually assaulting him. Carroll then forced the man out of his house. [Independent]
Carroll had kept the experience private from the general public for years before deciding to describe it in his autobiography.
When Did The Sexual Assault Happen?
The assault happened in 2021, when Carroll was in his second spell with Newcastle United.
Carroll had returned to Newcastle in 2019 after previously coming through the club’s academy and establishing himself as a Premier League striker there.
According to his account, the assault occurred at his home only hours after he had played a match for Newcastle. [Independent]
Carroll was 32 at the time.
What Does Andy Carroll Say Happened?
Carroll describes the incident in Owning It.
According to his account, a male friend of his then-partner came to Carroll’s home to watch boxing while she was away. Carroll said he became uncomfortable with the man’s behavior during the evening.
After having drinks, Carroll went to bed. He later awoke to find the man sexually assaulting him. [Independent]
Carroll forced the man out of the house.
He said the man then attempted to get back inside, at which point Carroll punched him and knocked him unconscious. Carroll called police and described himself as emotionally overwhelmed afterward. [Guardian]
Did Andy Carroll Think He Had Been Drugged?
Carroll writes that he questioned whether something had been put into his drink.
According to The Independent‘s account of the book, Carroll recalled having a few drinks and feeling sufficiently uncomfortable that he wondered whether the man had “slipped” him something before he went to bed. [Independent]
However, the publicly available reporting does not establish that Carroll was drugged. His suspicion should therefore not be treated as a confirmed finding about what happened that night.
What Happened After The Assault?
Carroll contacted police.
The case eventually went to court, where Carroll gave evidence against the man. The attacker was found guilty of sexual offenses, sentenced to three years in prison and placed on the sex offenders register. [AP]
That legal history is an important part of the story. Carroll is not making a newly reported allegation against someone who has never faced a criminal proceeding. The assault resulted in a prosecution and conviction, while Carroll’s identity as the victim remained out of the public record because of the anonymity protections afforded to sexual assault victims.
Who Sexually Assaulted Andy Carroll?
The man has not been publicly identified in the major reports about Carroll’s disclosure.
Carroll describes him as a friend of his former partner. Some reports based on the autobiography describe the man as a “celebrity” acquaintance. [Independent]
The offender’s identity should not be inferred from social-media speculation. The reliable reporting on Carroll’s disclosure does not publicly name him.
Why Wasn’t Andy Carroll’s Name Public During The Court Case?
Under UK law, victims of sexual offenses generally receive lifelong anonymity from the moment an allegation is made.
That protection meant Carroll could participate in the criminal proceedings without his identity being publicly reported as the victim.
Carroll has now chosen to identify himself and discuss his experience publicly through his autobiography. [ITV]
His decision to waive his own anonymity does not automatically remove privacy protections or reporting restrictions that may apply to other people connected with the case.
Why Did Andy Carroll Reveal The Assault Now?
Carroll said he struggled with whether to include the experience in Owning It.
He discussed the decision extensively with his partner, Lou Teasdale, and said he ultimately added the story to the autobiography at the last minute. [Guardian]
Carroll explained that one reason for going public was the possibility that his experience could help another sexual assault survivor.
“If me talking about it helps just one person then good,” Carroll wrote. [Guardian]
How Did The Assault Affect Andy Carroll?
Carroll says the psychological consequences continued long after the criminal case.
He wrote that the experience affected “every facet” of his life and that he thought about what had happened every day. He said those thoughts made it difficult for him to focus on other parts of his life, including football. [Guardian]
Carroll also said the trauma has not disappeared with time.
His comments provide new context for a period of his career that previously was viewed publicly almost entirely through injuries, transfers and performances on the field.
What Did Andy Carroll Say About Testifying In Court?
Carroll described giving evidence against his attacker as an extremely difficult experience.
He called the process “humiliating and embarrassing and absolutely horrendous.” [Guardian]
Despite that experience, his testimony formed part of a prosecution that resulted in the offender being convicted of sexual offenses and imprisoned.
Why Is Andy Carroll’s Disclosure Significant?
Carroll’s disclosure has attracted particular attention because male victims of sexual violence have historically been less likely to publicly discuss their experiences.
Carroll spent much of his career in the intensely scrutinized environment of English professional soccer, playing a position and a style often associated with physical toughness. His account illustrates that sexual assault can affect men regardless of their physical size, strength, fame or public image.
Carroll’s decision to identify himself also explains why a criminal case involving a well-known Premier League player could previously have taken place without the public knowing he was the victim: he was legally entitled to anonymity. [ITV]
Was Andy Carroll Playing For Newcastle At The Time?
Yes.
Carroll was in his second stint with Newcastle United when the assault occurred.
A product of Newcastle’s academy, Carroll became a first-team star before Liverpool bought him in January 2011 for a then-club-record £35 million.
He later spent several seasons with West Ham United before returning to Newcastle in 2019. He remained there until 2021. [Guardian]
Carroll subsequently played for Reading and West Bromwich Albion before moving to France, where he played for Amiens and Bordeaux.
Who Does Andy Carroll Play For Now?
Carroll is now a player and co-owner of Dagenham & Redbridge.
He joined the non-league club in July 2025 after returning to England from France and has continued playing into his late 30s. [Guardian]
Carroll also spent time in an interim managerial role at the club during 2026.
What Is Andy Carroll’s Autobiography?
Carroll’s autobiography is titled Owning It.
The book covers his career and personal life, including his rise through Newcastle’s academy, his high-profile £35 million transfer to Liverpool, his years in the Premier League and the controversies and injuries that followed him throughout his career.
The sexual assault account is among its most personal revelations. Carroll said he nearly left it out entirely before deciding shortly before publication that he wanted to tell the story. [AP]
What Was Andy Carroll’s England Career?
Carroll earned nine senior England caps and scored two international goals.
He represented England at Euro 2012 and scored against Sweden during the tournament.
His international career was ultimately limited by competition for places and the injuries that repeatedly interrupted his club career. [Guardian]
What Is The Key Context Around Andy Carroll’s Revelation?
Carroll’s disclosure is primarily the story of a sexual assault survivor choosing, years later, to identify himself publicly.
- The assault occurred at Carroll’s home in 2021 while he was playing for Newcastle United.
- Carroll says he was asleep when the assault occurred.
- He forced the attacker from his home and contacted police.
- The offender was prosecuted and convicted of sexual offenses.
- The offender received a three-year prison sentence and was placed on the sex offenders register.
- Carroll testified during the criminal case.
- Carroll’s identity was protected because sexual assault victims receive anonymity under UK law.
- He chose to reveal his identity and experience in his 2026 autobiography, Owning It.
- Carroll says the trauma affected his personal life and his ability to concentrate on football.
- He decided to speak publicly in part because he hopes doing so could help other victims.
The revelation therefore is not the beginning of a new criminal allegation or investigation. The criminal case already occurred and resulted in a conviction. What is new in September 2026 is that Carroll has chosen to tell the public that he was the previously anonymous victim and to describe the lasting effect the assault had on his life and football career. [AP]
