Former Wolves and Nottingham Forest striker Rafa Mir has been charged with sexual assault and assault by penetration involving the use of violence.

An investigative judge has determined that there is sufficient evidence to put the individual on trial following a prolonged judicial inquiry initiated by his arrest last September.

The 28-year-old, who is currently playing for LaLiga club Elche on loan from Sevilla, along with another Spanish footballer named Pablo Jara, were detained after two women they had encountered a few hours earlier at a nightclub in Valencia claimed they were sexually assaulted at Mir’s residence on September 1.

The investigating judge believes that the actions taken during the case investigation indicate evidence, rather than mere suspicions, that Rafa M.V. sexually assaulted one of the two women on two occasions, whom he, Pablo J.G., and another friend had met earlier at a nightclub in Valencia.

The incidents reportedly occurred in the early hours of September 1, 2024, at the home of the current Elche FC player, located in a residential area in the Valencian town of Betera, specifically in the swimming pool and a bathroom.

Rafa Mir, pictured during his time at Wolves in 2018, has been charged with sexual assault

The judge also identified evidence of sexual assault without full penetration and minor physical injuries by the other accused, Pablo J.G., against a second woman, also in the swimming pool at Rafa M.V.’s residence.

The judge has mandated that Rafa M.V. post bail of £10,850 and Pablo J.G. post bail of £4,338 to ensure their potential civil responsibilities if convicted.

Both men have also been summoned to make formal statements, although at the request of his lawyer Rafa Mir will do so by video conference.

Mir, full name Rafael Mir Vicente, won the 2019 European Championship with the Spain national under-21 football team and a silver medal with the Olympic team at the 2020 tournament.

He joined Wolves on a four-and-a-half year contract in January 2018 and took the No 9 shirt, linking up with former Valencia boss Nuno Espírito Santo.

Mir only played twice for Wolves and did not register a goal for the club in a dreadful spell, leading to the player being branded a flop by many fans. 

He had loan spells at Las Palmas and Nottingham Forest (where he also failed to score a single goal) while with Wolves, and left the club for good in August 2021 when he signed a six-year contract with Sevilla.

He returned to boyhood club Valencia on loan last July before switching to Elche.’

Mir’s female accuser was aged 21 at the time of his arrest and the other woman 25.

Mir went on loan from Wolves to Nottingham Forest, above in 2019, before moving to Spain

The footballer, who has protested his innocence, has been the target of regular abuse by away supporters since his detention and release on bail last year following two days behind bars.

During Elche’s away match against Alaves at the weekend the home team’s supporters shouted: ‘Rafa Mir, rapist’ when he was substituted in the second half.

The referee responded by alerting the police and halting play for several minutes in line with protocol.

In a statement released after his arrest, Rafa Mir said insisting he was innocent of any wrongdoing: ‘I have full confidence in this country’s judicial system with which I have co-operated from the outset to clarify what happened.’

He went to apologise to his teammates and club, which handed him a record fine, for partying into the early hours of the morning.

Public prosecutors have not yet been invited by the judge to submit their written indictment in which they would outline the prison sentence they would seek at trial if Mir is convicted as charged.