Thomas Partey’s Next Move? Arsenal Issues Statement Amid Barcelona Interest

Regarding Thomas Partey’s future with the team, Arsenal has acknowledged that they are still in negotiations with him. Although Partey’s current contract is scheduled to end on June 30, manager Mikel Arteta is keen to keep him with the team. Reports suggest that the midfielder has been in discussions with La Liga giants Barcelona about a potential free transfer. Thomas Partey, who spent his early career in Spain, joined Arsenal from Atletico Madrid for £45 million in 2020.

This season has seen the Ghanaian play more matches than ever, making a total of 52 appearances—surpassing his previous record of 40 games.

However, his future at Arsenal remains uncertain. The club recently provided an update when they unveiled their retained and released list, noting that Thomas Partey is one of two players whose contracts are set to expire at the end of this month. A passage in their announcement read: “The following players’ contracts also expire on June 30, 2025. Discussions are ongoing, and once matters are finalized between all parties, we will communicate in due course: Chloe Kelly, Thomas Partey and Michal Rosiak.”Arteta has publicly stated his hope that Thomas Partey will sign a new deal, saying, “I think consistency-wise it’s been his best season. The way he’s played, performed, his availability, has been exceptional and he’s a really important player for us.”

In April, when asked about contract talks with the 31-year-old, Arteta confirmed, “Yes, there is progress with all the players. I’ll leave that to [sporting director] Andrea [Berta] and the club to decide and to talk about.”

When pressed about his intentions for next season, Arteta stated, “The intention is very clear. I’ll let Andrea and the team take the initiative on that.”

Apart from Thomas Partey, Kieran Tierney and Jorginho, two first-team players, have also been confirmed to be leaving Arsenal. The 27-year-old Tierney is anticipated to rejoin his old team, Celtic, while Jorginho, 33, has been linked to a move to Flamengo. Celtic. While Neto will return to Bournemouth after just one appearance, loanee Raheem Sterling is also expected to return to Chelsea.

Arsenal’s official list of retained and released players for the upcoming season features notable names such as Raheem Sterling, Reece Clairmont, Khayon Edwards, Jakai Fisher, Romari Forde, Teyah Goldie, Jimi Gower, Jack Henry-Francis, Lina Hurtig, Amanda Ilestedt, and Jorginho. Additionally, they have confirmed the retention of promising young talents like Max Kuczynski, Salah-Eddine Oulad M’Hand, and his brother Ismail Oulad M’Hand. Veteran Neton, along with exciting prospects Brian Okonkwo and Elian Quesada-Thorn, will also remain with the team, as will Zacariah Shuaib, who has shown great potential in recent matches. However, it’s worth noting that Kieran Tierney has officially departed the club, signaling a significant shift in the team’s defensive lineup for the upcoming season.