Thomas Partey was advised by Emmanuel Adebayor to reject Manchester United and Chelsea to sign for Arsenal, the striker has claimed.

The Gunners paid £45.5million to sign the Ghana international in a deadline day switch from Atletico Madrid.

The 36-year-old told reporters in Ghana: “About six months to a year ago, he was telling me about contacts he had had from England. He mentioned Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea. And I told him, ‘Listen, if I have a chance to play in England, a chance to play for Arsenal, the place you to have go to is Arsenal’.

“Because he is young, he is still learning and Arsenal are a family club, and I’m very happy and impressed with his first steps in the team.

“Unfortunately we all saw what happened against Aston Villa at home but he is a great player, a great personality. He is like a younger brother to me who is always looking for advice and we get along very well.”