Barcelona has signed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, a Gabonese attacker, as a free agent till June 2025.
“It’s Auba time!” the club stated in a tweet on Wednesday, which featured a clip of Aubameyang announcing: “I’m here Barcelona fans! Forza Barca!”
“The player will sign a contract until June 30, 2025, with an option to agree departure on June 30, 2023,” the club announced on their site, saying that the 32-year-agreement old’s includes a buyout clause worth 100 million euros ($113 million).
According to the statement, “Aubameyang is a speedy striker and has an eye for goal, having racked up over 300 as a professional. His powerful but accurate shooting have made him one of the most feared goal-getters in the European game,”
Arsenal, Aubameyang’s former club, discharged him on Tuesday. That allowed the attacker, who was also in Spain, to join as a free agent with Barcelona after the transfer market ended on Monday evening. Aubameyang’s Arsenal salary, which began at around 300,000 euros ($337,000) per week, is said to have been significantly reduced.
Debts owed by Barcelona
Barca is still attacking by massive debts totaling almost a billion euros ($1.1 billion). They are now in fifth place in La Liga, one spot behind Atletico Madrid, whom they face at home on Sunday, with Aubameyang possibly making his debut.
Aubameyang signed Arsenal for a reported 56 million pounds from Borussia Dortmund on the final day of the January transfer window in 2018, a club record at the stage. He played in 165 professional games in all competitions and scored 92 goals in nearly four years with the club.
However, after signing a three-year deal in September 2020, which allegedly gave him the Premier League’s top-earning at the season, his performance has declined dramatically.
Aubameyang was benched for a north London derby in the previous campaign after late arrival for a group session. In December, he was deprived of his captaincy for “his latest disciplinary breach” according to Arsenal.
Aubameyang was a member of Gabon’s side for the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon in January. However, he lost the first two matches due to coronavirus before being ordered home when medical professionals discovered “cardiac lesions.”
According to the British Press Association, Arsenal postponed declaring Aubameyang’s exit as a mark of appreciation to Barcelona. On Tuesday, Barcelona’s president, Joan Laporta, hinted that the formal announcement might happen later this week.
