**Villarreal, Spain (AP) – August 8**: Spanish soccer club Villarreal has announced the signing of midfielder Thomas Partey, days after he was granted bail following rape charges in England. Partey's contract with Arsenal expired in June, allowing him to join Villarreal for the 2025-26 season. The club emphasized Partey's skills on the field while also addressing his legal issues. Villarreal issued an official statement saying, "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." Thomas Partey was granted bail after appearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London. He faces five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, related to alleged offenses between 2021-22 involving three women. Villarreal reinforced its dedication to respect and diversity and strongly condemned any acts of violence, including gender-based violence, discrimination, racism, xenophobia, or behaviors that undermine human dignity. The midfielder is expected to join Villarreal at their training ground on Friday, although terms of the contract beyond one season were not specified. Arsenal recently met Villarreal in a pre-season friendly at Emirates Stadium. Partey joined Arsenal from Atletico Madrid nearly five years ago. Jenny Wiltshire, Partey's lawyer, has stated that he "denies all the charges against him." The investigation was initiated in February 2022 when police first received a report of rape. Partey was charged on July 4, shortly after his contract with Arsenal ended. He is expected to appear at the Old Bailey on September 2.
Villarreal welcomes Thomas Partey amid legal controversies.
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