rsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has taken on the name Yakubu as part of his conversion to Islam – but will still be referred to as Partey when he plays for the Gunners and will continue to wear Thomas on his shirt.
Partey has converted to Islam because of his Moroccan girlfriend Sara Bella and revealed in a recent interview in his native Ghana that he has taken on the name Yakubu.
It is understood that the move is not a formal name change.
Partey is currently working his way back to full fitness after a thigh injury in April ruled him out of the final weeks of the season as Arsenal missed out on a top-four finish and Champions League qualification.
The midfielder could have been called up to the Ghana squad earlier this month, but it was agreed by both club and country it was best to let him continue his rehabilitation programme.
Partey has been working hard since the season finished and is confident he will be back fit for when pre-season begins in July.
