Barcelona Sign Aubameyang from Arsenal on a free transfer after the Gabon International left the North London Side, with the move set to be announced on Tuesday.
The contract was sealed late Monday evening by the 32-year-old Gabonese striker.
Aubameyang has not played for Arsenal since a disciplinary infraction in December, but he had previously scored 92 goals in 163 games.
Even though Aubameyang had flown to Spain, Barcelona felt the deal was dead earlier on transfer deadline day.
He was also linked with a move to Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr.
The departure of the former Arsenal captain will save the Gunners – who paid £56 million to Borussia Dortmund for him in 2018 – approximately £15 million in salary.
However, it leaves Mikel Arteta with only Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah as forwards for the rest of the season. Because of ongoing health difficulties, Aubameyang was forced to withdraw from the Africa Cup of Nations in January.
After scans suggested “heart lesions” following a bout of Covid, the forward missed Gabon’s tie with Ghana, but further scans gave him the all-clear.
The back story of Aubameyang’s deal
According to Guillem Balague, a football writer from Spain:
Aubameyang chartered a private aircraft to travel to Barcelona, and the Spanish club had scheduled a medical for him because it appeared that the transfer would take place.
It had nothing to do with Ousmane Dembele’s departure from the Nou Camp, although if the Frenchman had left, Barcelona would have been able to pay higher wages.
Then, around 6 p.m., it appeared that the move would not take place because the financial disparities between the two teams were too great.
This entire incident has been reported to us nearly minute by minute by Barcelona president Joan Laporta, who is attending a Mundo Deportivo awards ceremony. Laporta’s job is to give fans optimism, so he’s been presenting the scenario as it happens.
It appeared that the transfer would not take place because the wage disparity between what Barcelona could afford and the proportion of Aubameyang’s salaries that Arsenal were willing to pay was too big.
Barcelona had 2 million euros (£1.6 million) in salary to pay, and Aubameyang was willing to accept any payment. Arsenal then accepted a free transfer.
That means the Gabonese forward may only receive 2 million euros this season, rather than the almost 9 million euros (£7.5 million) he was promised at Arsenal, and more afterwards.
