Former England striker Andy Carroll has publicly revealed that he was sexually assaulted by a man in 2021.

The 37-year-old former Liverpool and West Ham forward chose to break his silence in his newly released autobiography, 'Owning It', opening up about a terrifying experience that continues to haunt his daily life.

The traumatic incident occurred at Andy Carroll’s home during his second spell with his hometown club, Newcastle United.

On the night of the assault, an acquaintance—a friend of his former partner who was away at the time—had come to Carroll's house to watch a boxing match and was expected to stay overnight.

The assault took place while Carroll was asleep in his home. Upon realizing what was happening, Carroll threw the perpetrator out of his house and knocked him unconscious when the man attempted to re-enter.

Immediately following the confrontation, a visibly shaken Carroll called the police while sobbing in the arms of his children's nanny.

The legal process that followed brought a measure of justice, as the attacker was found guilty of sexual offences, sentenced to three years in prison, and placed on the sex offenders' register.

Carroll courageously gave evidence during the trial, an ordeal he described as “humiliating and embarrassing and absolutely horrendous”.

Although sexual assault victims are automatically granted legal anonymity, Carroll made the deeply personal decision to waive his right to privacy and share his story publicly after discussing it with his girlfriend, Lou Teasdale.

He admitted that he almost held back, avoiding his book publisher until the last minute out of hesitation before deciding to lay bare the truth.

Expressing the difficulty of coming forward, Carroll wrote:

I was sexually assaulted, there I said it. Scary to even think about and only a few people knew about it before now.

He further reflected on the decision to publish his experience, stating, “

Me and Lou spent a lot of time discussing whether to mention it in this book or not. I avoided my publisher for so long that they probably suspected I got cold feet. Scary to talk about but it's made [me] the person I am today as much as any of the good stuff. And if me talking about it helps just one person then good, it will have been worth it.

Despite winning nine England caps and enjoying a distinguished career with top Premier League clubs such as Liverpool and West Ham, Carroll admitted that the psychological scars lingering from the assault disrupted his career and mental wellbeing.

He candidly disclosed how the incident invaded his everyday routine: “

What happened to me affected every facet of my life. I'd think about it every day, making it difficult to focus on anything else, including football… The trauma of what happened to me hasn't gone away.

Today, the veteran forward continues his passion for the sport as both a player and co-owner of non-league side Dagenham & Redbridge, whom he joined in July 2025.

!Andy Carroll, co-owner of non-league side Dagenham & Redbridge.

By coming forward, Carroll hopes to dismantle the heavy stigma surrounding male victims of sexual violence and inspire others carrying hidden emotional burdens to seek help and healing.

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Andy Carroll’s decision to share his most painful experience serves as a powerful reminder that trauma respects no boundaries, affecting elite athletes and ordinary individuals alike.

By breaking the silence surrounding male sexual assault, Carroll has transformed personal tragedy into an advocate’s message of resilience and hope.

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