Fabrizio Romano: Arsenal could now make unexpected signing after development in last 24 hours…

Fabrizio Romano: Arsenal may be poised to make an unexpected signing following recent developments in the last 24 hours.

According to Fabrizio Romano in his latest GIVEMESPORT newsletter, Arsenal could potentially secure an unexpected signing this summer due to a situation involving Thomas Partey that has unfolded in the past 24 hours.

The Gunners are on the brink of finalizing a deal for Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, who is anticipated to take over from the departing Jorginho.

In April, The Athletic reported that the north London club was eager to extend Partey’s contract, which is set to expire at the end of this month, thereby reducing the necessity to recruit two central midfielders this summer.

However, those negotiations have hit a standstill, and an exit now appears more probable, as Romano indicated on Thursday.

Arsenal Will ‘Bring in Midfielders’

The Gunners might add another player after Zubimendi.

Arsenal is gearing up for a significant summer transfer window as they aim to bolster various positions, including full-back, centre-back, goalkeeper, and forward roles.

Midfield was a crucial area they believed they had addressed early on with Zubimendi’s arrival, but Partey’s potential departure would create an additional vacancy in the squad that needs to be filled, prompting an unexpected foray into the transfer market.

In his exclusive GIVEMESPORT newsletter, Romano confirmed this when asked if they would seek a replacement for the Ghana international should he leave:

Yes, they would eventually recruit midfielders with both Thomas and Jorginho departing the club. Zubimendi is definitely one of them.

Partey Will Leave a Significant Gap at Arsenal

The midfielder has been pivotal under Arteta.

Although Partey may not always grab the headlines, he demonstrated his value to Mikel Arteta last season.

The 32-year-old participated in 52 matches across all competitions and contributed four goals and three assists, despite playing in a deeper midfield role.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Thomas Partey started 31 of the 37 Premier League matches he was available for in the 2024-25 season.

The statistics indicate that Partey will be a significant loss this summer, despite nearing the end of his career.

They will require a robust replacement for him, particularly with another seasoned player, Jorginho, also leaving the Emirates.