Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey is closing in on a move to Villarreal.
Partey, whose contract with Arsenal expired at the end of June, is set to sign a one-year deal with Villarreal, which will contain the option to extend it by a further 12 months.
The 32-year-old has undergone his medical with the Spanish side and his proposed move there is in its final stages.
Arsenal are due to host Villarreal in a friendly at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night.
Partey is close to signing for Villarreal, despite being charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault on July 4.
He is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
The allegations relate to three women who reported incidents between 2021 and 2022.
Partey denies the charges and his lawyer has said the Ghanaian “welcomes the opportunity to finally clear his name”.
Partey was first arrested on suspicion of rape in July 2022, which sparked an investigation by the Metropolitan Police and then the Crown Prosecution Service.
He continued to play for Arsenal during that time and the club were in talks to give him a new contract.
After Partey was charged, Arsenal said in a statement: “The player’s contract ended on June 30. Due to ongoing legal proceedings the club is unable to comment on the case.”
Mikel Arteta said last month he is “100 per cent” sure Arsenal followed the correct protocols regarding Partey, after the midfielder was charged with multiple counts of rape.
“I think the club was very clear in the statement,” said Arteta. “There are a lot of legal matters that are very complicated. So I cannot comment on that.”
Pushed on whether he was confident the club has followed the right processes, Arteta replied: “100 per cent.”
