Arsenal
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Atletico Madrid have reportedly turned down the opportunity to re-sign Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey on a free transfer this summer, despite the Ghanaian nearing the end of his contract at the Emirates Stadium.
Partey, 31, is set to leave Arsenal when his current deal expires on June 30. The midfielder is said to be seeking a new challenge after spending five years in North London, having joined from Atletico Madrid in a dramatic deadline-day transfer in 2020.
According toEstadio Deportivo, Atletico were approached over the possibility of bringing Partey back to the Spanish capital, but manager Diego Simeone’s side have opted against a reunion. Instead, the La Liga outfit are focusing on completing a €40 million (£34.2m) move for Real Betis midfielder Johnny Cardoso.
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Partey had previously revealed he was on the verge of renewing his contract with Atletico back in 2020, but the deal collapsed after club president Enrique Cerezo reportedly refused to pay his agent a 10% commission fee. Arsenal capitalised on the situation, activating his release clause and securing his services at the last moment.
Thomas Partey
Thomas Partey (Image credit: Getty Images)
Reflecting on that move, Partey recently told Ghanaian outlet3Sports: “Transitioning from Spain to London was the most difficult period of my life.”
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Despite enduring multiple injury setbacks during his time at Arsenal, Partey was a key figure under Mikel Arteta last season, making 52 appearances across all competitions. In total, he has featured 167 times for the Gunners, contributing nine goals and seven assists.
Arsenal had initially hoped to extend Partey’s stay but talks over a new contract stalled. With his exit now expected, the club is accelerating plans to reinforce their midfield. Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi is set to arrive as a direct replacement, while other targets include Sevilla’s Lucien Agoumé and Brentford captain Christian Nørgaard.
Arteta, speaking about Partey last month, praised his contributions: “Consistency-wise, it’s been his best season. I think the way he’s played, performed, his availability has been exceptional and he’s a really important player for us.”
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