The bail of the Premier League footballer being investigated for two alleged rapes has been extended until early January.

It is the latest extension of the player’s bail by the Metropolitan police, which had been set to expire at the end of November.

He was initially detained in July and released on bond until early October, which was extended from an earlier date in August, before a request to extend it until late November was granted.

Late in July, the force said that it would take no further action over an alleged infraction committed by the player in June 2021, but investigations into two further complaints continued.

The footballer was initially detained on suspicion of rape against a lady that allegedly occurred in June of this year; he was brought into the jail and subsequently arrested on suspicion of two further incidences of rape against a different woman that allegedly occurred in April 2021 and June 2021.

This season, the player has been a regular member of his club’s first team while not being named for legal reasons. The club confirmed in July that he would be available for selection until further notice and would not be suspended.

The player’s team was informed of a rape allegation against him in the fall of 2017. This claim was brought to the Met’s attention in August 2021, but it did not appear to influence his standing with the team.

In March of this year, the police launched an inquiry into this and another alleged rape committed by the same player against the same woman in February.