In the beginning of July, the news came from Premier League giant Arsenal that midfielder Thomas Partey will not be offered a contract extension after five seasons in the club.
Just a few days later, British police announced that the 32-year-old is suspected of a total of five cases of rape against two women and one case of sexual assault against a third woman during the years 2021-2022.
On Tuesday, Partey, who denies the crime, was heard in a court in London for the first time.
In court, it was established that Partey is granted bail, with the conditions that he is not allowed to contact any of the three women and that he must notify the police in the event of an address change or international travel, according to English media.
"Boo the player"
Partey is expected to return to court on September 2.
At the same time, the Ghanaian national team player is rumored to have made a deal with the Spanish La Liga club Villarreal, which will play in the Champions League this fall.
According to The Athletic, the clubless Partey has already completed the medical examination, but Villarreal has not confirmed this.
Even if the recruitment from a sports perspective can be motivated, a supporter association would rather that the transfer does not happen.
My personal opinion is the same as what most supporters express on social media. I do not agree to recruit a player who is accused of such serious crimes and I would understand if the supporters boo the player, says Cesar Pena, chairman of the supporter association, to The Athletic.
He hopes that the club takes into account the supporters' opinion.
Regardless of the outcome of the trial, most fans will not approve of the recruitment, even if he is ultimately acquitted, says Cesar Pena.
Stirred up emotions
The situation with Partey can be compared to the case of scandal-plagued Mason Greenwood. Manchester United suspended the Englishman when he was accused of rape and assault of his girlfriend in the fall of 2022.
In the beginning of 2023, the investigation was dropped after the girlfriend withdrew her allegations and new evidence was presented.
After being loaned to Spanish Getafe, Greenwood was sold to Marseille in the summer of 2024. A transfer that stirred up emotions in the football-crazy city in France.
There are hardcore supporters who value morality above all else, who will never accept the recruitment, said Fabrice Lamperti, journalist at the newspaper La Provence, to TT last fall.
