Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey joins La Liga side Villarreal in this summer window.
Villarreal Seal Shock Move for Partey
Thomas Partey leaving Arsenal for Villarreal has made waves in the football community.
The midfielder moved to the PL in 2020 from Atletico Madrid for a fee of £45m. His deal ended with the Gunners at the end of June. Villarreal wasted no time getting him to join the ranks. They announced that he would join the squad this week. He was announced the day after the club finished 3-2 against Arsenal in a pre-season match at the Emirates Stadium.
However, this transfer is far from a routine signing. Partey’s arrival comes just days after he was charged with five counts of rape involving two women. And along with an additional sexual assault charge against a third woman. He has denied all allegations and was granted conditional bail earlier this week at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
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Fans express doubts
The signing of Partey from Villarreal has received mixed opinions. About 1,000 fans signed an online petition against the transfer as well. In response, the club then made a statement regarding their commitment to respect and diversity.
For Partey, coming back to La Liga is like returning home. This is where he initially built his base as a strong, hard, midfielder. Villarreal are excited to see what he may bring in terms of performance. But, off-field distractions mean Partey will be in the spotlight for a while.
The La Liga side will need to manage both the football as well as the broader controversy during the new season. This could determine much of their season. For now, the football world is left waiting to see whether Partey can recover his form. In the meantime, he will have other serious issues to deal with as well.
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