Arsenal delivers an important update on the future of Partey

Arsenal remain in discussions with Thomas Partey over a new contract but have confirmed the expected exits of Jorginho and Kieran Tierney.

Partey’s contract is set to expire on 30 June, and the defensive midfielder has been linked with Barcelona and Juventus.

The news on Partey’s future came in an update shared by the Premier League runners-up thanking the out-of-contract men’s and women’s players who will be leaving the club at the end of the month.

Italy midfielder Jorginho, who is expected to join Brazilian outfit Flamengo, had already confirmed his exit in a farewell video posted to his Instagram last week, while Tierney is returning to former club Celtic.

The Scotland left-back, who featured 144 times for Arsenal, told the club website: “Just thank you for everything from day one. They supported us through the good times and the bad, and they supported me through some hard times as well.

“I think that’s what I’m most grateful for, the times where it wasn’t so good or so easy for me is when they probably supported me most, so I’m just very grateful and I feel very lucky to have the support from them.

“I feel so lucky that I’ve played for this club and the love that the supporters have given me has been amazing. I’ve loved every day here and I’ve learned so much, I’ve improved so much and I just feel very lucky.”

The announcement also confirmed loanees Raheem Sterling and Neto would return to their respective parent clubs, Chelsea and Bournemouth.

Sterling wrote on Instagram: “Thank you for making my family feel welcome, Arsenal.”

Forward Nathan Butler-Oyedeji, who earned a number of call-ups to Mikel Arteta’s first-team squad, is among the departing academy players.