French goalkeeper Baptiste Valette, 27, arrested on rape suspicion

A French goalkeeper has been arrested for the alleged rape of an 18-year-old woman outside a nightclub in the city of Nancy.

Baptiste Valette, 27, who plays for Ligue 2 side AS Nancy, was held in police custody after his arrest in the early hours of Sunday morning, according to The Sun.

Ligue 2 is the second flight of French professional football, and Valette has been a first-team regular for his club since arriving there this year.

He has previously played for Ligue 1 sides Nîmes Olympique and AS Saint-Étienne as well as Belgian side R.E. Virton.

He also represented the France national beach soccer team at the 2013 Euro Beach Soccer League.

Valette, who denies wrongdoing, is reported to have met the woman and her friend at around 2am on Sunday in the ARQ nightclub in Nancy, which lies in the eastern district of Lorraine.

Prosecutor Francois Perain said: "A man unknown to the women bought them drinks before inviting them to talk outside the club.