Former Liverpool and England striker Andy Carroll, 37, reveals he was sexually assaulted in 2021 in new autobiography

Former England striker Andy Carroll has revealed that he was sexually assaulted by a man at his home in 2021, an experience he has now described publicly for the first time in his autobiography. Carroll, who was automatically granted anonymity as a victim of sexual assault, said the incident continued to affect his life and his football long after the offender was convicted and jailed.Carroll says the assault happened while he was sleeping at homeCarroll, now 37, revealed the details in his autobiography Owning It, explaining that the assault happened during his second spell with hometown club Newcastle.According to Carroll's account, a friend of his former partner, who was away at the time, had come to his home to watch a boxing match and was staying there. Carroll said the assault happened while he was sleeping.He said he threw the man out of his house after the incident, before knocking him unconscious when the attacker attempted to get back inside.Carroll then called the police and said he was left "sobbing" in the arms of his children's nanny.The offender was subsequently found guilty of sexual offences, sentenced to three years in prison and placed on the sex offender register, with Carroll testifying during the court proceedings.Carroll described giving evidence as "humiliating and embarrassing and absolutely horrendous", while explaining that he had initially been reluctant to make the experience public."I was sexually assaulted, there I said it. Scary to even think about and only a few people knew about it before now," Carroll wrote.He said he decided to include the incident in his book "at the very last minute" after discussing the decision with his girlfriend, Lou Teasdale."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."Carroll said he ultimately decided to tell his story because of the possibility that speaking about what happened could help someone else."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."Carroll says the trauma affected his life and footballCarroll told Owning It that the consequences of the assault extended well beyond the immediate aftermath and affected his ability to concentrate on football."What happened to me affected every facet of my life," he wrote. "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."BBC Sport, reporting on Carroll's account, said the former striker had decided to make the details public in his autobiography after discussing them with Teasdale.Carroll began his career at boyhood club Newcastle United, scoring 31 goals in 80 league appearances in the Premier League and Championship before earning a big-money move to Liverpool in 2011. He later joined West Ham before returning to Newcastle in 2019.The striker subsequently had spells with Reading, West Bromwich Albion and French clubs Amiens and Bordeaux, before joining Dagenham & Redbridge in July 2025 as both a player and co-owner of the National League South club.Carroll represented England nine times between 2010 and 2012. He has made six appearances in the National League South this season, continuing his playing career while also taking on responsibilities off the pitch at Dagenham & Redbridge.Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.