Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey joins Villarreal
The 32-year-old defensive midfielder has agreed a season-long deal and will join the Villarreal squad in training on Friday.
Partey was charged last month with raping two women while he was a player for the Premier League club. He is accused of five counts of rape relating to two women, plus a charge of sexual assault against a third woman, between April 2021 and June 2022.
'The club is aware that the player is currently involved in legal proceedings in England. The player vehemently defends his innocence and denies all charges against him,' Villarreal said in a statement.
'The club respects his presumption of innocence as a fundamental principle and is awaiting the verdict of the courts, which will be responsible for clarifying the facts of the case. In accordance with British law regarding ongoing proceedings, the club will not comment further on this matter.'
Partey made 167 appearances for Arsenal, scoring nine goals after joining from Atletico Madrid in 2020.
Villarreal, who beat Arsenal 3-2 in a pre-season friendly on Wednesday, begin their La Liga campaign at home to promoted Real Oviedo on August 16.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
an hour ago
- First Post
Setback for Manchester City with talismanic midfielder Rodri sidelined until September
Spanish midfielder Rodri, the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner, had missed a majority of the previous season due to a ligament damage, which affected Manchester City's defence of their Premier League title. He would return to fitness, only to suffer a groin injury in the FIFA Club World Cup last month. read more Rodri had made four appearances at the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States before getting ruled out of the tournament with a groin injury. Reuters Manchester City midfielder Rodri will not be at full fitness until after September's international break, Pep Guardiola has revealed. The 2024 Ballon d'Or winner missed most of last season due to ligament damage and without him City failed to mount a strong defence of their Premier League crown. The 29-year-old Spanish international fought his way back to fitness but suffered a groin injury in City's defeat to Saudi club Al-Hilal at the Club World Cup in the United States last month. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Rodri's getting better but he had a big injury in the last game against Al-Hilal and for the last five or six weeks,' Guardiola said in comments released on Saturday. More from Football 'He's training right now and in the last two or three days is better. Hopefully maybe the international break is when he will be really, really fit. 'Hopefully, in the games (prior to that) he can play some minutes but the important thing is to not have pain because we don't want him to be come back and injured, come back and injured. 'We will try desperately to avoid that but he's training the last two or three days with us and that's good.' The City staff are also nursing Phil Foden and Mateo Kovacic back to fitness and both players joined Rodri in being left out of a pre-season game in Sicily this week. City face Wolves in their first Premier League game of the season next weekend and then play Tottenham and Brighton before the September internationals.
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Wrexham denied by Southampton late show on Championship return
Wrexham suffered an agonising 2-1 defeat to two late Southampton goals on their return to English football's second tier after 43 years, while Sheffield United were humbled 4-1 by Bristol City on Saturday. HT Image Backed by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, Wrexham have enjoyed a dream ascent from the National League to the Championship with three consecutive promotions. After another summer of heavy investment in the transfer market, the Welsh side looked set to make a flying start to their ambition to reach the Premier League. The visitors led 1-0 at half-time thanks to a Josh Windass penalty and could have been further in front as Windass also hit the bar. "I think when we reflect, it's a very proud day for the club playing at this level and there was a lot of positives for us," said Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson. "The new lads came in and have done really well but the existing players as well. I thought they were really good. "That gives us great heart for the season ahead." Southampton, relegated from the Premier League last season, were under the orders of Will Still for the first time and the former Lens coach had a telling hand to play in the turnaround. Still brought left-back Ryan Manning off the bench in the final quarter and the Ireland international secured a memorable three points for the Saints with a goal and assist. Manning's brilliant free-kick on 90 minutes levelled before he crossed for Jack Stephens to fire in the winner six minutes into added time. "It was crazy," said Still. "Good to show a bit of grit and determination. To bring the energy and place alive which probably helped us bundle the ball over the line is good." Ruben Selles' tenure as Blades boss got off to a nightmare start as Scott Twine's double and goals from Ross McCrorie and Anis Mehmeti gave Gerhard Struber a commanding win in his first match as Bristol City boss. Ryan Mason enjoyed a winning start as West Brom manager as Isaac Price's 15th minute goal secured a 1-0 win over Blackburn. Millwall shocked highly-fancied Norwich 2-1 at Carrow Road thanks to substitute Macaulay Langstaff's late winner. Dael Fry's first goal in more than three years ensured Rob Edwards' reign as Middlesbrough head coach got off to a winning start with a 1-0 victory over Swansea. Adrian Segecic scored on his debut to give Portsmouth a 1-0 win at Oxford. Stoke struck twice in stoppage time to beat Derby 3-1. Charlton also scored a winner in added time to beat Watford 1-0 on their return to the Championship. Coventry and Hull played out a 0-0 stalemate, while QPR and Preston shared the points in a 1-1 draw. Birmingham, bankrolled by an ownership group containing seven-time Super Bowl winning NFL quarterback Tom Brady, began their campaign with a 1-1 draw at home to Ipswich after conceding a controversial stoppage time penalty. kca/pi/pb
Mint
2 hours ago
- Mint
Arsenal vs Athletic Club: Viktor Gyokeres nets first goal as Gunners win Emirates Cup and end pre-season on high note
Arsenal wrapped up their 2025 pre-season campaign in style, clinching a 3-0 victory over Athletic Club in the Emirates Cup on Saturday (August 9) at the Emirates Stadium. The match, which served as the Gunners' final tune-up before the Premier League season, saw new signing Viktor Gyokeres open his Arsenal account, while Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz added to the scoreline. Notably, the club secured the friendly trophy for the fourth consecutive year.
