Arsenal

On 5 October 2020, Premier League club Arsenal announced the signing of Partey on a long-term

contract, after activating his £45 million (€50 million) release clause with Atlético Madrid. He was
given the number 18 shirt, which had been vacated by Nacho Monreal the previous season.[25] Upon
signing, Partey stated his desire to help Arsenal "back where [they] belong", describing his decision
to move being based on "[wanting] to experience new challenges", while also crediting the transfer
to manager Mikel Arteta and technical director Edu.[26]
On 17 October 2020, Partey made his debut for Arsenal as a substitute for Granit Xhaka in a 0–1
away defeat in the league against Manchester City.[27] Five days later, he started his first match for
Arsenal in a 2–1 away win over Rapid Wien in the UEFA Europa League.[28] Midway through a match
against Aston Villa on 8 November, he suffered a thigh injury which saw him miss the rest of the
month's games.[29] He returned on 6 December in the North London derby, but suffered another injury
at half-time as Arsenal lost 2–0 to Tottenham Hotspur.[30] He did not play again until a month later,
which he came off the bench in a 0–0 draw against Crystal Palace.[31][32] On 22 October 2021, Partey
scored his first goal for Arsenal in a 3–1 win against Aston Villa.[33] In February 2022, Partey was
named Arsenal's player of the month. [34]

International career
In May 2016, Partey was called up for the first time to the Ghana national team by manager Avram
Grant, ahead of a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification match against Mauritius.[35] He made his
debut on 5 June, replacing Frank Acheampong for the final 11 minutes of a 2–0 away win that
booked the Black Stars' position in the finals.[36] On 5 September 2017, Partey scored his first
international hat-trick in a 5–1 win against Congo in 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification.[37]
Partey was chosen in Kwesi Appiah's 23-man squad for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
[38]
 In their last group game, he scored in a 2–0 win over Guinea-Bissau at the Suez Stadium as the
Black Stars topped their group.[39] He netted in the penalty shootout at the end of the last-16 game
against Tunisia on 8 July, though his team was eliminated.[40]
Partey won Ghana Player of the Year in 2018 and 2019.[41][42] Ahead of the 2021 Africa Cup of
Nations qualifiers, as well as for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Partey was named Ghana's
vice-captain.[43][44]

Media
Partey was involved in the Amazon Original sports docuseries All or Nothing: Arsenal, which
documented the club by spending time with the coaching staff and players behind the scenes both
on and off the field throughout their 2021–22 season.[45][46]

Personal life
In March 2022, Partey converted to Islam at a mosque in London.[47][48] In June it was reported that he
had changed his first name to Yakubu as part of his religious conversion, while remaining Thomas
Partey both legally and professionally;[49] he said days later that he had changed his name back to
Thomas.[50]
In June 2022, Partey was made a chief of the Manya Krobo people of the Eastern Region of
Ghana by their leader Sakite II, as a reward for captaining the team to 2022 FIFA World
Cup qualification at the expense of neighbours Nigeria. [51]
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