Spanish side Villarreal have officially announced the signing of Ghanaian midfielder Thomas Partey ahead of the 2025/26 season, despite the player facing ongoing rape charges in England.
The La Liga club confirmed the agreement via social media, stating that the former Arsenal midfielder will join the Yellow Submarine for the current campaign whilst legal proceedings continue.
Partey spent four seasons with Premier League side Arsenal before making the move to Spain, where he previously played for Atlético Madrid.
In their announcement, Villarreal praised Partey’s footballing abilities whilst acknowledging the sensitivity of his legal situation. “Thomas Teye Partey is a complete midfielder with great stamina and exceptional physical attributes. He is an excellent ball-winner and has the ability to start moves from deep,” the club stated.
“The experienced Ghanaian midfielder has earned more than 50 caps for his national team. With the English side, he won the FA Community Shield (2023/24), while with the Madrid outfit he lifted the LaLiga title (2020/21), the UEFA Super Cup (2018/19) and the UEFA Europa League (2017/18).”
However, Villarreal also addressed the ongoing legal matters directly in their statement: “The club is also aware that the player is currently involved in legal proceedings in England. The player firmly maintains his innocence and denies all charges against him.”
The Spanish side emphasised their commitment to due process, stating: “The club respects the fundamental principle of the presumption of innocence and will await the outcome of the judicial process, which will be responsible for clarifying the facts of the case.”
Partey faces five counts relating to rape allegations involving three women, with his bail conditions prohibiting him from contacting any of the alleged victims and requiring him to inform police of any address changes or international travel plans.
Villarreal stressed their stance on violence in their statement: “Villarreal CF wishes to clearly reiterate its strong commitment to respect and diversity and firmly condemns any act of violence in all its forms, including gender-based violence, discrimination, racism, xenophobia, or any behaviour that undermines the dignity of individuals.”
The 31-year-old midfielder is expected to begin training with his new team at the Ciudad Deportiva, Villarreal’s official training complex.
The move marks a significant development in Partey’s career as he returns to Spanish football whilst his legal case continues in the English courts.
Tags: Thomas Partey, Villarreal, transfer, Arsenal, Ghana midfielder, rape charges, legal proceedings, La Liga, Spanish football, bail conditions, presumption of innocence
