Villarreal CF has officially announced the signing of former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey, despite the player facing multiple criminal charges in England. The 32-year-old Ghana international joins the Yellow Submarine as a free agent after his contract with the North London club expired in June.
Partey's £45 million move to Arsenal from Atlético Madrid in 2020 saw him make 167 appearances for the Premier League side. His departure comes amid serious legal challenges, with Westminster Magistrates' Court charging him last week with five counts of rape against two women and one count of sexual assault against a third complainant.
"The club is aware of the ongoing legal proceedings and respects the presumption of innocence," Villarreal stated. "We await the judicial outcome while condemning all forms of violence and discrimination."
The midfielder, who maintains his innocence, was granted conditional bail with restrictions including no contact with the alleged victims and mandatory notification of travel plans. Nearly 1,000 fans have signed a petition protesting the transfer through the Villarreal Report fan platform.
Partey is scheduled to join his new teammates on Friday and will make his first court appearance at London's Old Bailey on September 2. The transfer follows Villarreal's 3-2 preseason victory against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium this week.
Spanish law prevents Villarreal from commenting further due to the active legal proceedings in England. The club emphasized its commitment to "respect, diversity, and human dignity" in its official statement.
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