Villarreal Confirm Partey Signing And Address Sexual Offence Charges In Statement

Villarreal person confirmed nan signing of Thomas Partey connected a free transportation aft nan expiry of his statement pinch Arsenal. The move was announced 2 days aft nan 32-year-old appeared successful court charged pinch six intersexual offences.

Partey was bailed to look astatine nan Old Bailey for proceedings later this year, charged pinch 5 counts of rape relating to 2 women and a complaint of intersexual battle against a 3rd woman. The alleged offences are said to person taken spot successful 2021 and 2022 erstwhile Partey was playing for Arsenal.

The Ghana world has signed a one-season statement and will subordinate nan Villarreal squad successful training connected Friday. His presence has upset fans of nan Spanish club, pinch hundreds signing a petition urging a halt to what has been described arsenic nan “darkest time successful nan club’s history”.

Villarreal said successful a statement: “The nine is alert that nan subordinate is presently progressive successful ineligible proceedings successful England. The subordinate firmly maintains his innocence and denies each charges against him. The nine respects nan basal rule of nan presumption of innocence and will await nan result of nan judicial process, which will beryllium responsible for clarifying nan facts of nan case. Due to nan rule successful England successful narration to ongoing proceedings, nan nine is incapable to remark further.

“Villarreal CF wishes to intelligibly reiterate its beardown committedness to respect and diverseness and firmly condemns immoderate enactment of unit successful each its forms, including gender-based violence, discrimination, racism, xenophobia aliases immoderate behaviour that undermines nan dignity of individuals.”

Partey made 167 appearances for Arsenal aft joining from Atlético Madrid successful 2020. Villarreal hit Arsenal 3-2 successful a friends connected Wednesday.