Thomas Partey: “I never wanted to leave Arsenal”

Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey has opened up on his emotional final conversation with manager Mikel Arteta the night before leaving Arsenal.

On October 2020, Arsenal announced the signing of Partey on a long-term contract, after activating his £45 million release clause with La Liga club, Atlético Madrid.

🚨🎙️ | Thomas Partey:

🗣️ “I spoke to Mikel Arteta the night before I left Arsenal F.C.. That moment will always stay with me.

🗣️ I never wanted to leave — not even for a single day. The whole transfer process was difficult for me.

🗣️ But that night, when we sat down for what… pic.twitter.com/ja5csk8nKf

— Arsenal News (@ArsenalNews_Hub) April 3, 2026

The 32-year-old will go on to sped five seasons with Gunners before parting ways in 2025 after the expiration of his contract.

In a deeply personal interview as quoted by Arsenal News on Friday, the Villarreal midfielder described his final night in North London as one of the most emotional moments of his career.

Partey insists that his contact with Mikel Arteta remained intact despite speculations of a strained relationship.

Thomas Partey has 56 caps for Ghana

“I spoke to Mikel Arteta the night before I left Arsenal F.C.. That moment will always stay with me.

“I never wanted to leave — not even for a single day. The whole transfer process was difficult for me.

“But that night, when we sat down for what I’d call our last coffee, he spoke to me in a way I had never experienced before… like a father.

“In that moment, I understood everything. I saw a man who truly wanted the best for me.

“I adore Arteta, and every day I pray that he wins the league — he truly deserves it.”

Partey was charged with five counts of rape

Partey had a glittering career at La Liga side, Atletico Madrid with two loan spells at Mallorca and Almeria between 2013 and 2020.

He won the La Liga, Europa Lesgue and the UEFA Super Cup with Atletico Madrid before lifting the English Community Shield in 2023 with Arsenal.

In August 2025, the former Tema Youth midfielder returned La Liga with Villarreal who announced his signing on a free transfer.

Partey who has made 19 La Liga appearances this season, has 56 caps for the four time African champions with 15 goals scored.

In July 2025, Partey was charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, relating to alleged incidents involving three women between 2021 and 2022.