Rafa Mir: Former Wolves striker & LaLiga footballer arrested for alleged sexual assault in Valencia

The 27-year-old, currently on loan at LaLiga side Valencia from Sevilla, was detained on Tuesday evening (September 2) and did not attend training this morning. The Civil Guard in Valencia confirmed that a LaLiga footballer had been arrested, but denied reports from Spanish media that a second man was also in custody.

A spokesperson for the Civil Guard told the Daily Mail: “We can confirm a LaLiga footballer has been arrested over an alleged sexual assault. No one else has been arrested at the moment but that may change later.” The spokesperson added: “The man who has been detained is currently in police custody.”

A source close to the investigation told the outlet under Spanish law, police have 72 hours from the time of arrest to either release the suspect or present him before a judge. The judge will then decide whether to grant bail or remand the suspect in custody pending further investigation.

The Civil Guard has not provided specific details regarding the nature of the alleged sexual assault or whether the accusations involve rape. However, sources close to the investigation informed Spanish radio station Ser that Mir and another man were arrested in connection with an alleged sexual crime involving two women, both around 25 years old, at the footballer’s home.

Rafa Mir, whose full name is Rafael Mir Vicente, gained prominence by winning the 2019 European Championship with Spain’s Under-21 football team and earning a silver medal with the Olympic team at the 2020 Tokyo Games. He joined Wolves in January 2018 on a four-and-a-half-year contract, where he reunited with former Valencia boss Nuno Espirito Santo and donned the number 9 shirt.

During his time at Wolves, Mir had loan spells at Las Palmas and Nottingham Forest before moving permanently to Sevilla in August 2021. He returned to his boyhood club, Valencia, on loan in July.