Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang news: Arsenal striker joins Barcelona on deadline day
- Seb Sternik
- 31 January 2022
Following a day of twists and turns, Barcelona have agreed a permanent deal for Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The 32-year-old arrived in the Catalan capital on Monday morning, before an agreement had been reached.
A proposed loan move had collapsed earlier in the day with both clubs unable to negotiate the player's hefty wages.
Arsenal refused to pay the majority of Aubameyang's money - which is believed to be around £350,000 a week - in order to make the deal viable. Instead, the club were willing to let the player leave on a free transfer.
The Gabon international was frozen out of Mikel Arteta's squad and lost his captaincy following an unspecified disciplinary breach.
On the other hand, the club are expected to save around £25million in wages which is a significant amount for a player who didn't appear to be in the manager’s plans.
The 32-year-old joined the Gunners from Borussia Dortmund in 2018 for what was then a club record fee.
The player joins a Barcelona side which is in hot pursuit of the top four. The club are currently sitting fifth in La Liga, just one point away from fourth-placed Atletico Madrid.
