Thomas Partey close to joining Villarreal on week of court appearance

Thomas Partey is close to joining Spanish side Villareal. File picture: Mike Egerton/PA

The former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey is poised to join Villarreal on a free transfer this week.

Partey is due to appear at Westminster magistrates court on Tuesday after being charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault last month, a few days after he left Arsenal having failed to agree a new deal. He has denied all the charges.

Partey is understood to have completed his medical at Villarreal having settled on personal terms for a move back to Spain, where he has played for Atlético Madrid, Mallorca and Almería. 

He is believed to have agreed a one-year contract with an option to extend by 12 months, and the opportunity to play in the Champions League next season is thought to have been a motivating factor in the 32-year-old’s decision. Partey also had offers from Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

Arsenal are due to host Villarreal in a friendly on Wednesday. Some supporters of the Spanish club have voiced opposition to his expected move, with a hashtag #NoAThomasPartey (No to Thomas Partey) trending on X and others being encouraged to write to Villarreal to express disappointment.

Partey had been the subject of an investigation that began in February 2022, with the allegations relating to three women who reported incidents between 2021 and 2022. Partey’s lawyer has said her client “welcomes the opportunity to finally clear his name”.

Partey continued to play for Arsenal after first being arrested on suspicion of rape in July 2022 and held talks about extending his contract after Mikel Arteta said he was keen for him to stay. Arsenal’s manager said last month he was “100%” sure Arsenal followed the correct protocols over Partey.

— The Guardian