By: Kwame Bediako
Ghanaian international Thomas Partey marked his first competitive appearance for Villarreal on the opening night of the 2025/26 La Liga campaign on August 15, 2025.
Coming off the bench in the final minutes, the former Arsenal midfielder contributed to a solid 2-0 win over newly promoted Real Oviedo at the Estadio de la Ceramica.
The victory gave Villarreal a positive start to their league season. Partey replaced Santi Comenasa with just eight minutes remaining, joining his teammates as the Yellow Submarines controlled the game comfortably.
The hosts took the lead in the 29th minute when Etta Eyong capitalized on a numerical advantage after Real Oviedo was reduced to ten men, following Alberto Reina’s red card.
Villarreal then doubled their advantage before halftime thanks to Senegalese forward Pape Gueye, who found the net in the 36th minute.
This match marked Partey’s return to the Spanish top flight after five years away, having left Atletico Madrid in 2020 for Arsenal. His return to La Liga with Villarreal is seen as a significant boost for the club, who expect him to be a pivotal figure in their midfield.
Villarreal’s faith in the 32-year-old reflects their ambition ahead of a challenging season both domestically and in Europe.However, Partey’s signing has not been without controversy.
The midfielder faces serious legal issues in England, with three separate accusations of rape and sexual assault pending. Despite this, Villarreal opted to sign him, believing his on-field contributions outweigh the potential distractions and controversies off the pitch.
