Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey was met with a chorus of boos as he made his Villarreal debut on Friday night, Afrosport reports.
The Ghana international came off the bench in the 82nd minute during Villarreal’s 2-0 victory over 10-man Real Oviedo, with goals from Etta Eyong and Pape Gueye securing all three points in their La Liga opener at the Estadio de la Ceramica.
𝐅𝐔𝐋𝐋-𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄
Villarreal get 3️⃣ points from the first game of the season, thanks to goals from Etta Eyong and Pape Gueye.
This is only just getting started, Yellows 💛!#VillarrealRealOviedo pic.twitter.com/SXtd05nxg0
— Villarreal CF English (@VillarrealCFen) August 15, 2025
The 32-year-old joined the Yellow Submarines on a free transfer this summer, signing a two-year deal after leaving Arsenal at the end of his contract.
His return to action comes under a cloud of controversy, as he currently faces serious legal issues in the United Kingdom. Partey has been charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault relating to alleged incidents between 2021 and 2022, during his time in north London.
The Ghanaian, however, has denied all allegations.
He was granted bail at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 5 August under strict conditions, which include having no contact with the three women involved and notifying police of any permanent address changes or international travel.
Despite only playing a short spell in the match after replacing Santi Comesana, Partey’s appearance drew a mixed reaction from the home crowd, with a blend of boos and cheers ringing out across the stadium.
