Aubameyang leaves Arsenal for Barcelona by mutual agreement

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has left Arsenal this month on a free transfer, the club have confirmed. He has joined Barcelona permanently until 2023.

When the squad jetted off to Dubai for warm weather training with the former captain not following along, the writing was on the wall. By hook or by crook, he would be leaving the club in January.

It appeared as if Barcelona would be his destination, only for discussions to hit an impasse on deadline day. A move that looked certain to be pulled off suddenly was in threat of collapse.

But the bridges were already burned. The road back winding and irreparable. However this deal would get done, it would get done. And now it has, and it needed to.

https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1488587252351619072

Aubameyang leaves Arsenal for Barcelona on free transfer bringing an end to his Gunners career on January transfer window deadline day

"An official statement said: “Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has left the club by mutual agreement.“Auba joined us from Borussia Dortmund in January 2018 and won the Premier League Golden Boot in his first full season in 2018/19. He scored both goals in the 2020 FA Cup final win over Chelsea, and scored again at Wembley as we won the FA Community Shield against Liverpool at the start of last season.“We wish Auba all the best for the next chapter in his career and thank him for his contribution to the club.”"

Interesting use of ‘mutual agreement’, but it’s finalised.

What threatened the deal falling apart were the disagreements over the payment of Aubameyang’s salary. Initially Arsenal were not set to receive a loan fee for Aubameyang, nor would the deal include an option or obligation to buy, and instead it would be a simple loan.

Those terms altered entirely as the negotiations progressed, and instead the deal became a free transfer departure. He joins Barcelona for six months, with an extra year included. Arsenal will save close to £30m in wages across the remaining 18 months of what was Aubameyang’s contract. It’s a staggering amount.

But, on a more sombre note, Aubameyang has played his final game for Arsenal Football Club. That last gasp miss at Goodison Park was his final touch of the ball in red and white.

It draws the curtain on 163-game career in which he netted 93 goals, lifted the FA Cup, and the Community Shield. His efforts in north London will never be forgotten.

Nobody could foresee his time at Arsenal panning out as it had. Some opposed the new contract, but the fall from grace is staggering.

Farewell, and thank you, Pierre-Emerick.