Thomas Partey has joined Arsenal on a long-term contract after they brokered a staggering £110m deal for Atletico Madrid Midfielder.
They pulled off the dramatic transfer coup on deadline day by triggering Partey’s £52.5m clause written into his contract held by the Spanish football authorities.
They are also paying Partey £260,000-a-week in a four year contract with an option, £2.5m signing-on fee and ten per cent agent commission in a staggering package.
Last season, the Ghana international made 46 appearances for Atletico, playing a key role in their third-placed finish in La Liga and reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
During his career, Thomas has also enjoyed successful loan spells in Spain with RCD Mallorca (2013/14) and UD Almeria (2014/15), and has made 29 international appearances for Ghana.
Technical director Edu, said: “Thomas has all the right attributes to be a top player for Arsenal. He is a leader on and off the pitch and he is exactly the kind of player and person we want at the club. We already feel like we know Thomas very well based on the work we have done analysing his performances closely in recent times.
“With his all-round game and positive aggressive style, he will be a brilliant addition to our squad. We’ve made a strong start to the season and we want to continue to build on this with Thomas now part of our club.”
Mikel Arteta added: “We have been watching Thomas for a while, so we’re now delighted to add such a high quality player to our squad. He is a dynamic midfielder with great energy. He brings a lot of experience from a top club that has competed at the highest level in La Liga and the Champions League for several years.
“We’re very impressed with his attitude and his approach to the game. He’s an intelligent footballer and we’re looking forward to him integrating into our system and contributing to the progress we’re building at the moment at the club.”
Thomas will wear the No 18 shirt and will join up with his new team-mates next week after
