Villarreal CF have officially announced the signing of Ghanaian midfielder Thomas Partey ahead of the 2025/26 season. The 32-year-old joins the Spanish side as a free agent following his departure from Arsenal, and is expected to link up with his new teammates at the training ground tomorrow.
In their official statement, Villarreal described Partey as a “complete midfielder” with exceptional stamina, strong ball-winning abilities, and a powerful mid-range shot. The club also praised his knack for initiating attacks from deep and breaking defensive lines with forward runs.
Partey brings a wealth of experience to the Yellow Submarine, having earned over 50 caps for the Ghana national team and enjoyed a distinguished club career. He previously featured for Arsenal, Atlético de Madrid, UD Almería, and RCD Mallorca. His honours include the FA Community Shield (2023/24) with Arsenal, as well as a La Liga title (2020/21), UEFA Super Cup (2018/19), and UEFA Europa League (2017/18) during his time in Spain.
The club acknowledged that Partey is currently facing legal proceedings in England, where he has been charged with multiple offences, which he denies. Villarreal emphasized the principle of presumption of innocence and confirmed that they will await the outcome of the judicial process. Due to legal constraints, the club said it is unable to comment further on the matter.
Villarreal concluded their statement by reiterating their commitment to respect, diversity, and zero tolerance for any form of violence, discrimination, or behaviour that undermines human dignity.
