Former England footballer Andy Carroll says he was sexually assaulted a few years ago in a "traumatic" attack.
The 37-year-old wrote about the incident in his new book, Owning It, saying it happened "a few years ago".
Carroll wrote: "Something happened to me a few years ago that was so traumatic I only decided to include it in this book at the very last minute.
"I was sexually assaulted, there I said it. Scary to even think about and only a few people knew about it before now."
The former Liverpool and Newcastle striker admitted he debated with his girlfriend Lou Teasdale about whether to share the story.
He included it in his new book "at the last minute" and hopes it will encourage other victims to speak out.
Carroll wrote: "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.
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"Scary to talk about, but it's made 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 sexual assault happened in 2021 and the perpetrator received a three-year prison sentence.
He currently plays and acts as assistant manager for National League South side Dagenham & Redbridge.
The striker played for nine clubs across a 20-year professional career, which included spells abroad in France.
He came through as a teenager at Newcastle before joining Liverpool in 2011 for a then British-record transfer fee of £35million.
He moved to West Ham United in 2013 and spent nearly seven years at the club.
The highlight of his international career came against Sweden in Euro 2012.
Carroll scored the opening goal of the game with a towering header as England went on to win 3-2.
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