Thomas Partey’s time at Arsenal is officially set to come to an end, with the Ghanaian midfielder expected to leave the club once his contract expires on Monday, June 30.
Despite multiple attempts from both the player’s representatives and Arsenal management to negotiate a contract extension, the parties were ultimately unable to reach a satisfactory agreement, as confirmed by multiple sources including The Athletic’s David Ornstein. Talks reportedly broke down over salary expectations and the length of the proposed deal.
The North London club is expected to formally confirm Partey’s departure early next week in an official statement to supporters and media outlets.
Partey, who is now 32 years old, has been free to enter discussions with foreign clubs since January due to the Bosman ruling and has attracted strong interest from a number of high-profile teams, including Spanish giants Barcelona and several top Turkish clubs.
During his four-year stint with Arsenal, Partey made a total of 167 appearances in all competitions, scoring nine goals and providing seven assists. While injuries frequently disrupted his rhythm and availability, he still played a crucial role for Mikel Arteta’s side, particularly during the demanding 2024/25 season.
In the most recent campaign, Partey featured in 52 matches across all competitions, demonstrating his versatility by covering various positions, including stepping in at right-back when needed. One of his most memorable performances came in Arsenal’s emphatic 3-0 victory over Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash, where his dominance in midfield was widely praised.
Partey originally joined Arsenal from Atletico Madrid in 2020 after the Gunners activated his £42.7 million release clause, a move that was met with significant excitement at the time.
With Partey’s exit now imminent, Arsenal have already started to restructure their midfield for the new season. Negotiations for Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi and Brentford captain Christian Norgaard are reportedly at advanced stages, and both players are expected to bolster Arteta’s options in the middle of the park.
The potential completion of Zubimendi’s deal has been strategically timed to coincide with the new accounting period starting July 1, which aligns with Premier League Profit and Sustainability Rules designed to ensure financial compliance.
Despite his contributions, Partey leaves the Emirates Stadium with only a Community Shield title to his name, which Arsenal won against Manchester City in 2024. His exit follows that of Italian midfielder Jorginho, who made a move to Flamengo earlier this summer as part of Arsenal’s broader squad overhaul.