Eight unnamed premier league players were at the centre of a probe into the alleged gang rape of a 17-year-old girl, The Sun newspaper said on Monday.

The newspaper said the girl had consented to sex with one of the players at a London hotel over the weekend, but seven other players from the same team joined in against her wishes.

When asked about the report in The Sun report, a Scotland Yard spokesman said detectives from the sex crimes unit Operation Sapphire are investigating the claim.

"Westminster Sapphire have received an allegation of rape from a 17-year-old female," he said. "At this point it would be inappropriate to comment further."

The players were not named, but were said to include "at least one international and several other household names".