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Thomas Partey has extended his gratitude to the fans, team-mates and coaching staff at Atletico Madrid for the trust and belief they showed in him after completing a move to Arsenal.
The Gunners’ hopes of signing Partey looked to have been extinguished leading up to deadline day but the north London outfit revived their interest early on Monday and triggered the 27-year-old’s £45million release clause.
The Ghana midfielder put pen to paper on a four-year deal at the Emirates and will be on eye-watering wages of £250,000-a-week, making him the third-highest paid player at the club behind Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
‘Dear Atletico fans, today I only have words of gratitude for you,’ Partey posted on Instagram on Tuesday morning.
‘For several years now, Atletico Madrid has been my home and this family will always be a part of me.
‘I want to thank the club for the trust placed in me from day one, but above all, I want to thank you, this wonderful fanbase that accepted me from the first moment and one that never stops believing in both the good and the bad times.
‘Atletico Madrid is not just a club, it is a family. Thank you.’
Arsenal reportedly upset Atleti by failing to give any notice before activating Partey’s buyout clause but the will be of little concern to head coach Mikel Arteta, who couldn’t hide his excitement after the deal was announced.
‘We have been watching Thomas for a while, so we’re now delighted to add such a high quality player to our squad,’ said Arteta.
‘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.’
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