Thomas Partey 'makes final decision on leaving Arsenal' with statement imminent

Thomas Partey will reportedly leave Arsenal after five years at the club after failing to agree fresh terms with the Gunners. The 32-year-old featured 52 times for the north London giants last season and started the second leg of his side's Champions League semi-final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, but is set to head through the Emirates exit when his contract expires on Monday.

Arsenal signed Partey from Atletico Madrid in October 2020, and the Ghana international made an instant impact under Mikel Arteta. The star, who recently wrote an emotional farewell to Arteta's assistant Carlos Cuesta, quickly established himself as a tough-tackling midfielder who could shield the Gunners' defence and bring the ball forward. He played 167 games during his time at the Emirates, but won't be sticking around any longer.

According to The Athletic, Partey and Arsenal couldn't come to an agreement over a new deal and he will no longer be a Gunners player when his current contract ends.

Arsenal are expected to confirm his exit in the coming days by releasing a statement.

And the midfielder, who had loan spells with Mallorca and Almeria during his spell in Spain after first moving to Europe to join the Leganes academy in 2012, is set to take some time before deciding his next move.

Arsenal are said to be finalising a deal to sign Spain midfielder Martin Zubimendi, who has been viewed as the replacement and successor to Partey.

And Zubimendi's impending arrival may have influenced Partey's decision to leave, with the Ghana ace addressing his future during an interview with 3sports in June. He explained: "I think the first thing is where are you happy and where do you feel at home.

"At the end of the day, you've been in football, you've been in different teams, it is not going to be the last team you play for or the first team.

"Then it's about what is your next objective, what do you want to achieve next. You still have to look at all this, and at the end of the day we all have a family that needs money, this is our mind.

"We are not getting younger, we are working. There are a lot of things where you have to look now with a family, where you want them to be happy. When you go out nobody is going to destroy your family, these are things you have to look at. When you are young, you just go anywhere.

"I'm an Arsenal fan, I can't decide anything and just have to leave it to my agent and the club. Me, I just want to enjoy football."