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Villarreal Drops Partey; Legal Appeal Bars World Cup Play

6/17/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Villarreal CF will not extend midfielder Thomas Partey's contract, making him a free agent after June 2026.
Partey faces five rape counts and one sexual-assault count from July 2025, two rape counts from February 2026, pleaded not guilty, and is scheduled for a Crown Court trial in June 2027.
An appeal was dismissed Tuesday, barring Partey from Canada and making him miss Ghana’s World Cup opener on June 17, 2026.

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Story summary

Villarreal CF will not extend midfielder Thomas Partey's contract, making him a free agent after June 2026.
Partey faces five rape counts and one sexual-assault count from July 2025, two rape counts from February 2026, pleaded not guilty, and is scheduled for a Crown Court trial in June 2027.
An appeal was dismissed Tuesday, barring Partey from Canada and making him miss Ghana’s World Cup opener on June 17, 2026.