LONDON, United Kingdom — Andy Carroll has disclosed a sexual assault at his home in 2021 that he says continues to affect his life.
The former England striker recounts the attack in his autobiography, Owning It, released on Thursday, September 24, 2026.
Carroll, 37, wrote that few people had known about the assault.
He decided shortly before publication to include it, following discussions with his girlfriend, Lou Teasdale, and said he hoped sharing his experience could help others.
He wrote, “I was sexually assaulted, there I said it.”
According to BBC Sport, Carroll had been entitled to anonymity.
His account says the attacker received a three-year prison sentence following a conviction for sexual offences and was placed on the sex offender register.
Carroll gave evidence at the trial and described the experience as deeply distressing.
ITV News also reported his account of testifying against the man.
At the time of the assault, Carroll was playing for Newcastle United for a second spell. He said the man, a friend of his former partner, had come to watch boxing and intended to spend the night. His partner was away.
Carroll said he was asleep when the assault occurred. He made the man leave, then knocked him unconscious when he attempted to get back inside.
He contacted the police and described crying while being held by his children’s nanny.
Carroll wrote that he thought about the assault daily and struggled to concentrate on football and other parts of his life.
“The trauma of what happened to me hasn’t gone away.”
Carroll, who played nine times for England and also represented Liverpool and West Ham United, is now a player and co-owner of Dagenham & Redbridge.
