On Thursday, Carroll released his autobiography, "Taking Control," in which he disclosed his experience of sexual assault by a "male celebrity friend."

Carroll wrote that the sexual assault occurred five years ago, one night at his home after a Newcastle match. He described the details of the attack: the perpetrator was an unnamed "celebrity friend" of his ex-fiancée, Billi Mucklow.

This "celebrity friend" had shown up uninvited at their house to watch a boxing match, but Carroll had always found "this person a bit strange." Carroll stated that he felt very uncomfortable interacting with him, and after "a few drinks," he felt "dizzy."

He went to bed early, wondering, "Did he drug me?" He then said he woke up to find the man attempting to perform oral sex on him under the covers. Carroll then kicked him out of the house, but the man tried to re-enter.

Carroll wrote that he "beat" the man "with all his might," knocking him unconscious, then called the police and "cried in the nanny's arms." The attacker denied the sexual assault but was subsequently charged.

Carroll testified in court, stating that the process was "humiliating, embarrassing, and extremely terrifying." The assailant was convicted of sexual offenses, sentenced to three years in prison, placed on the national sex offender registry, and banned from entering the village where Carroll lived.

Carroll wrote: "What happened to me has affected every aspect of my life. I think about it every day, so much so that it's hard to focus on anything else, including football... The trauma from this incident has not disappeared."

"I was sexually assaulted, and I'm speaking out. Just thinking about it is horrible, and only a few people knew about it before this. My partner and I spent a lot of time discussing whether to mention it in the book."

"I hid from my publishers for so long that they probably suspected I was chickening out. Although it's terrifying to talk about it, like all difficult experiences, it has shaped who I am today. If my story can help even one person, it will be worth it."

Carroll has played for nine clubs, including two stints at Newcastle. In 2011, he moved to Liverpool for £35 million, breaking the British transfer record at the time. He also played for West Ham United and was included in England's squad for Euro 2012.

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