Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang smiles during warm up for the English Premier League match between Everton and Arsenal at Goodison Park in Liverpool, north west England on December 6, 2021. (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Barcelona sign Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
New Barcelona player Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang warms up with teammates ahead of the English Premier League match between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on December 2, 2021. (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
Aubameyang was Barcelona’s final piece of business in a busy transfer deadline
Many assumed that Barcelona would be focused on resolving the future of Ousmane Dembélé on transfer deadline day. Instead, they ended up signing yet another former Borussia Dortmund forward as the Catalans reached a deal to sign Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
According to ESPN, the now former Arsenal player is set to join Barcelona as a free agent despite both clubs working on a loan. After those talks broke down, Arsenal agreed to let him leave on a free as they were content with simply getting his wages off the book.
Aubameyang made a surprise visit to Barcelona where he was spotted coming out of the airport. A move that caught everyone by surprise.
Barcelona had been interested in Alvaro Morata but when that door closed, they turned their attention to the 32-year-old. Aubameyang’s desire to join was enough that he considerably reduced his wages. A move he had to make regardless given the club’s financial situation.
According to Guillem Balague, Aubameyang may only earn €2 million the rest of the season instead of a potential €9 million he could have earned at Arsenal.
The deal he signed is for six months with an option for an additional year.
One of the concerns was the health of Aubameyang who dealt with Covid-19 when he was with Gabon in the Africa Cup of Nations and was later sent home. But everything appears to have been in order during his medical tests prior to signing his deal.
Aubameyang had been frozen out at Arsenal after a falling out with manager Mikel Arteta. He hasn’t played a game since early December. A change of scenery might just be the thing he needs and he is likely to get plenty of playing time given Xavi Hernandez’s options at the striker position are Martin Braithwaite and Luuk de Jong.
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With Ferran Torres and Adama Traore, two of Barcelona’s other signings, getting some service should be no issue for Aubameyang.
While he is on the wrong side of 30, Aubameyang is being brought in to add goals to a side who struggles to score more than one a game. He is not being brought in to help Barcelona fight for LaLiga or the Champions League. He is being signed to help them make a run in the Europa League and finish in the top four.
In the end, all sides got what they wanted. Arsenal got rid of a player they didn’t want and were unlikely to play, Aubameyang got to join Barcelona which is something he wanted and Barcelona got the goalscoring striker they’ve been searching for. Furthermore, his signing won’t have a detrimental impact should they make an attempt next summer to sign Erling Haaland.
