Sahil Ali raped three vulnerable young women in Sussex between 2022 and 2024.
He bragged about signing for Brighton and Hove Albion FC and posted a picture of himself signing for the club online.
Ali, 21, used violence, threats and drugs to rape and sexually abuse three women.
His youngest victim was only 15 when he brutally attacked and raped her.
Ali was found guilty at Lewes Crown Court of seven rapes, intentional strangulation and sexual assault by penetration.
The rapist, from West Sussex, was sentenced to 18 years with a further five years on licence for dangerousness in March this year.
Ali signed for Brighton in 2013 as an academy player.
A judge told him: “You had a career as professional footballer ahead of you which will now be lost.”
After leaving the Albion, Ali played for Millwall and Barnet.
Lewes Crown Court heard the serial rapist preyed on vulnerable, young women.
Beverly Cripps for the Crown said the three young women were all vulnerable and not capable of looking after themselves and their safety.
The rapes all took place in car parks.
“When Sahil Ali was arrested on two occasions, he denied all the allegations,” Ms Cripps said.
Ali was bailed by police twice before he was finally charged.
The first rape was in 2022, when he was only 18 years old.
His first victim was only 17.
She told police being attacked by Ali was the “most violent thing I have ever experienced”.
“He’s a pathetic little boy who wanted to feel powerful,” she said.
The second victim was 29 but with a mental age of someone much younger, the court heard.
Ali took money from her and made revenge porn threats while he was on bail.
His third victim was only 15.
He raped her twice during violent, drug fuelled attacks and was arrested and bailed again.
Ali throttled her to the point where she could not breathe, the court heard.
She said: “I wanted to be a dentist.
“I was achieving in school. I was 15. He was 19.
“I stopped going to school. My friends would ask me about bruises.
“It has affected everyone around me.
“I still struggle with sleeping and have flashbacks of him strangling me,” the girl said.
Judge Christine Laing KC told Ali his utterly unrestrained behaviour despite being on bail and his attitude to the offences and victims was very disturbing.
“I detect no real remorse from you,” the judge said.
“Other than for the position you now find yourself in, you take no responsibility for your actions, blaming porn, your victims and the minimisation of your behaviour quite breath taking.
“You seemed wholly unconcerned about your behaviour.
“You still do not have any appreciation of the gravity of your offending.
“Your own moral compass is clearly set seriously askew.
“You had a career as professional footballer ahead of you which will now be lost.”
Following the sentencing, Detective Superintendent Andrew Harbour said: “Ali preyed on vulnerable teenage girls, making demands on them and using violence to make them comply.
“The case has had a profound impact on the three victims, and I commend them for their courage to come forward and report their experiences to the police.
“We take reports of rape and sexual assault extremely seriously, and encourage anyone impacted by these offences to come forward to us and report what has happened.
“After a trial, Ali was found guilty of the offences, and he is now serving a significant custodial sentence.”
Guidance for victims of rape and sexual assault about help and support is available online.
Ali, a British national, formerly of an address in West Sussex, was sentenced to 18 years in prison, with a further five years added on licence for dangerousness.
This means he will not be released automatically half way through serving his sentence, but must serve a minimum of two thirds of his sentence before he can be considered for parole.
He was placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, restricting his access to children and computer equipment, was also imposed until further order.
The sentencing happened on June 26 at Lewes Crown Court and initial reporting of the case outcome was delayed for legal reasons, but can now be revealed.
Brighton and Hove Albion FC declined to comment.
A spokesman for Barnet FC said: “We have thousands of players registered through third party educational establishments.
“We don’t always have a direct liaison with these players and any contact is normally limited towards coaching and football development.”
Millwall FC have been approached for comment.
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