Thomas Partey to Leave Arsenal After Four Seasons in North London

Thomas Partey’s time at Arsenal is coming to an end. The Ghanaian midfielder will officially leave the club when his contract expires on Monday, bringing the curtain down on a five-year stint in north London. Although Arsenal had been in discussions to extend his deal, the two parties couldn’t reach an agreement on terms. With that, Partey is set to walk away as a free agent.

While the writing had been on the wall for a few weeks, the final decision has now been made. Back in April, The Athletic reported that Arsenal were still in talks with Partey over a possible renewal. However, a deal never came to fruition. Therefore, Partey had been free to negotiate with overseas clubs since January 2025.  

Despite past injury concerns, Partey had a strong 2024-25 campaign, staying fit and playing a key role in Mikel Arteta’s squad. He featured in 52 matches across all competitions, helping Arsenal finish second in the Premier League and reach the Champions League semi-finals. His consistency in midfield was a major factor in their deep run, especially after struggling for fitness in previous seasons. In the league alone, Partey made 35 appearances and put up some solid numbers. He averaged 2.63 tackles per game, won possession back nearly four times per match, and delivered over five progressive passes per 90 minutes. He also chipped in with four goals and created three big chances. 

However, Arsenal are already planning for life without him. A deal for Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi is believed to be all but done, with the Spanish club preferring to formalize the transfer at the start of July due to financial calendar reasons. On top of that, the Gunners are also close to finalizing a move for Brentford’s Christian Nørgaard, which would further reshape the midfield. 

Partey originally joined Arsenal from Atletico Madrid in October 2020 after the club triggered his €50 million release clause. He made 167 appearances in all competitions, scoring nine goals and playing a crucial role whenever fit. 

Now 32, Partey is expected to attract strong interest as a free agent. Juventus and AC Milan have both kept tabs on him in recent years and now have the chance to land him without paying a transfer fee. Turkish giants Fenerbahçe are also reportedly in the mix, hoping to bolster their midfield with an experienced, high-quality option.