Ex-Newcastle United star Jetro Willems ‘shocked’ as cops seize GUNS during raid of house he rents out as 2 men arrested
A FORMER Newcastle United defender has said he is “shocked” after cops seized two guns during a raid at a home he owns.
Police arrested two men after the weapons were found in a property rented out by Dutch left wing-back Jetro Willems in the town of Barendrecht in Holland.
But the footballer – who plays for Groningen FC and previously did a stint at Newcastle United – has insisted he knows nothing about the raid as he has not lived in the house for two years.
Willems, 28, said he previously stayed there with a girlfriend but he left when their relationship ended.
He said he then rented the home out through a real estate agent and moved to Groningen, reports AD.
Willems told the outlet he was “naturally shocked”.
He added: “But I don’t know anything about it. I haven’t been there for a long time.”
Cops said a 28-year-old man from Rotterdam and a 22-year-old man from Dordrecht and two firearms were seized.
A spokesman told AD officers raided the house on Monday morning as part of an ongoing investigation.
Willems joined Groningen this year after a previous spell as a defender at Newcastle United between 2019 and 2020.
He netted his first Premier League goal for the Magpies against Liverpool during their Premier League clash in September 2019.
The ex-Sparta player then scored again for the side against their 2-2 draw against Manchester City in November of the same year.
Speaking about the raid, Willems told RTV Noord he found out about it when a journalist contacted him about it.
He added: “I was just taking a shower here at home in Groningen.
“They asked if I knew anything and said that two boys had been arrested, but I couldn’t explain anything.
“I asked my parents to take a look and I immediately went to Rotterdam by car myself.”