Arsenal have signed Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey for £45m after triggering the player’s release clause.

In a dramatic deadline day for the Gunners, they informed La Liga that they would be paying the buyout fee in full in order for the move to go ahead before the transfer window closed.

Partey has been a long term target for Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta but they had originally refused to pay the £45m needed to get the midfielder in through the doors at the Emirates.

Up until this morning, it was believed that the deal would not be done, with Atletico confident of keeping the 27-year-old. However, there was increased talk about a move going ahead throughout the day, with a medical scheduled and paperwork signed in order to ensure the transfer was completed.

Partey will wear the number 18 shirt and will join up with his new teammates when he returns from international duty with Ghana.