Atletico Madrid have just confirmed Thomas Partey's transfer to Arsenal.The 27-year-old midfielder will be plying his trade in the Premier League throughout the 2020/21 campaign after Arsenal activated his £45 million release clause mere hours before the deadline.That way, the north London club were able to bypass negotiations with Atletico, who had stood firm on the release clause all summer, by paying up at the La Liga headquarters.
Atletico confirm the news on Twitter
Atletico confirmed the news on Monday night by tweeting that Partey had unilaterally terminated his contract due to Arsenal meeting his release clause, essentially announcing the move in tandem.
The news was followed by confirmation that Lucas Torreira will be moving in the opposite direction on a season-long loan, which will come as scant consolation for the bypassed Spanish side.
Then, approximately 15 minutes later, Arsenal reiterated what had already been revealed in Madrid by way of declaring #NoThomasNoPartey with a fantastic announcement video on Twitter.
Arsenal's search for midfielders
And with Partey completing his medical on Spanish shores, Arsenal were able to secure the signature that fans have been clamouring for since the 2019/20 season concluded.
It is, by all accounts, one of the most dramatic stories of Deadline Day with Arsenal proving that anything really can happen by wrapping up a deal with one final roll of the dice.
The Gunners' hopes of signing a midfielder looked dead in the water over the weekend with Houssem Aouar confirming he's staying at Lyon and Partey updates proving few and far between.
Partey completes Arsenal move
There were also suggestions that Arsenal were interested in a move for Chelsea general Jorginho, but that never seemed to manifest itself in a concrete bid or approach.
But perhaps the lack of a creative edge during the win over Sheffield United on Sunday finally encouraged Arsenal to bolster their resources in the middle of the park.
And Partey brings with him oodles of experience in arguably the most organised and tactically astute teams in all of Europe, appearing in 188 Atletico matches over the last five years.
It says a lot about Diego Simeone's opinion of the player that Atletico put their foot down so much this summer and that he's made three appearances this season in spite of the transfer drama.
What Partey brings to Arsenal
Perhaps the most exciting prospect for Mikel Arteta is Partey's durability as one of the most complete midfielders on the continent, which suits the current approach at Arsenal perfectly.
Arsenal have regularly adapted their tactics depending on their opposition recently, which makes Partey's mix of aerial dominance, flowing passes and ball recovery look ideal for the club.
And in terms of creativity, per statistics taken in June, only Thiago Alcantara had a higher success rate from players who tried more than 50 take-ons in Europe's top five leagues last season.
GIVEMESPORT's Kobe Tongs
Ok, sure, Partey isn't the second coming of a prime Mesut Ozil that is going to solve all the problems that reared their head during the win over Sheffield United.
But you've got to credit Arsenal for making sure they addressed the clearest deficiency in their squad by not being afraid to open their wallet after weeks of trying to secure a tidier deal.
The Gunners could easily have thrown in the towel and secured a cheaper, less talented option that, well, wouldn't have solved their problems in midfield like Partey promises to do.
It's can be nothing but a positive for Arsenal that Partey will essentially be putty in the tactical hands of Arteta that have worked so well for him since replacing Unai Emery in December.
Arsenal would probably have appreciated a smaller bruise on their bank account to seal the deal, but make no mistake that Partey looks like just what the doctor ordered at the Emirates Stadium.