Barcelona have agreed a deal with Arsenal for the transfer of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ahead of this evening’s transfer deadline.
The Gabon international has been exiled from the Arsenal side ever since being stripped of the captaincy and dropped for a ‘disciplinary’ breach in early December, and has since been left out of the club’s warm-weather training camp in Dubai during this international break.
Saudi side Al Nassr made a move to sign Aubameyang on loan and had agreed to pay the entirety of his £350,000-a-week wages, though the forward was keen to remain in Europe.
However, according to Sky Sports, the 32-year-old has accepted a ‘significant’ pay cut in order to facilitate a move to Barcelona, with the Catalan club having now agreed a deal with Arsenal.
Arsenal have agreed to allow him to move to the Nou Camp for nothing, his wages being off the books equating to a £25 million saving over the remaining 18 months of his deal at the Emirates.
Aubameyang landed in Barcelona earlier in the day, and after some confusion as to the status of a deal, he is now set to undergo a medical before completing a move ahead of this evening’s deadline.
The former Dortmund forward is set to become Barcelona’s third arrival from the Premier League this month following moves for Ferran Torres and Adama Traore from Man City and Wolves respectively.
The move will however be of some concern to Arsenal fans, with the club only having Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah as recognised strikers for the remainder of the season.
Aubameyang will leave having scored 92 goals in 163 appearances for the Gunners, including netting two as he helped the club claim a record-extending 14th FA Cup in 2020.
