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Thomas Partey has joined Villarreal on a two-year deal, the Spanish club confirmed on Thursday. The Ghanaian international was a free agent after leaving Arsenal earlier this summer. Partey's five-year spell with the Gunners concluded upon the expiry of his contract at the end of June. He had been in talks over a new deal at the Emirates Stadium but a contract extension never materialised. Instead, the 32-year-old is now set to return to Spain with Villarreal. A deal through to the summer of 2027 has been agreed. Days after his release from Arsenal, he was charged with five counts of rape and one sexual assault in July. Partey denies the charges, which stem from an investigation which started in 2022. He appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court on Tuesday where he was granted conditional bail. His bail conditions include that he cannot contact any of the three women and must notify police of any permanent changes of address or international travel. As bail conditions were discussed in court, Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring said: “I understand he’s no longer employed in this country and playing in Spain now. ” Partey is due to appear at the Old Bailey on September 2. Upon announcing his arrival, Villarreal addressed the ongoing court proceedings. A statement read: "Villarreal CF and Thomas Partey have reached an agreement for the Ghanaian footballer to join the Yellows ahead of the 2025/26 season. The player will join up with his new team tomorrow at the Training Ground. "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 African footballer also boasts a good shot from mid-range and has the ability to break lines when driving forward. "The experienced Ghanaian midfielder has earned more than 50 caps for his national team. He has also represented Arsenal FC, Atlético de Madrid, UD Almería and RCD Mallorca. With the English side, he won the FA Community Shield (2023/24), while with the Madrid outfit he lifted the La Liga title (2020/21), the UEFA Super Cup (2018/19) and the UEFA Europa League (17/18). "On the other hand, 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 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. Due to the law in England in relation to ongoing proceedings, the club is unable to comment further. "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 midfielder began his career in Spain prior to joining Arsenal in 2020. During his time in England, Partey made 167 appearances and scored nine goals for Mikel Arteta's side. Following his exit, Arsenal have bolstered their midfield with two new signings. Experienced Danish international Christian Norgaard has joined from Brentford. Meanwhile, long-time target Martin Zubimendi completed a £50million switch from Real Sociedad. Those arrivals have contributed to a £195million summer spending spree from Arteta. © 2025 talk SPORT Limited

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