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Barcelona sign Aubameyang: until 2025, €100M buy-out...

Barça officially announced the signing of the Gabon international on a contract until 30 June 2025 but with a release clause active from 2023.

Update:
Barcelona sign Aubameyang: until 2025, €100M buy-out...

Barça officially announced the signing of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who joins on a three and a half-year deal. He will sign a contract which will tie him to the club until 30 June 2025, although a release clause has been inserted which would allow the player to leave from 30 June 2023. His buy-out has been set at 100 million euros. Aubameyang, who arrived in Barcelona on Monday, passed a medical at 21:00 hours at the city's general hospital on La Diagonal before signing his contract with president Joan Laporta at the Ciutat Esportiva. He joins to reinforce the team's attack, although Xavi had originally requested Álvaro Morata. That operation however was practically impossible due to Atlético's reluctance to approve the transfer plus the 35 million euro asking price set by Juventus.

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That forced Barça to look elsewhere and focus on Aubameyang, who was at a dead end at Arsenal after falling out with manager Mikel Arteta. Arsenal agreed to release the 32-year-old, who in turn lowered his salary expectations to join the Catalans.

Despite having made just 15 appearances this season, Aubameyang ends his relationship with the Gunners with decent figures - seven goals between August and December. He is no longer the exuberant striker who Arsenal signed for 65 million euros from Borussia Dortmund in January 2018 but he still has an eye for goal. A forward who has excellent movement, skill and finishing, will accompany Ferran Torres in Barcelona's attack with the hope of turning their season around.

Aubameyang celebrates after scoring for Arsenal against Norwich back in September
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Aubameyang celebrates after scoring for Arsenal against Norwich back in SeptemberStuart MacFarlaneArsenal FC via Getty Images

Aubameyang's early years

After coming up through the youth system at AC Milan, Aubameyang started out in France, gaining experience during spells with Monaco, Lille and Dijon. But it was at Saint-Étienne where he really made his mark, scoring 41 goals in 97 games. He continued that scintillating form at Dortmund, where he became known internationally. His 92 goals in 163 games made him a club icon and what impressed Arsenal who dreamt of him becoming their new Thierry Henry. That didn't happen due to other circumstances but he left with 141 goals in 213 games - a first-rate average of 0.66 goals per game.

Aubameyang, who turns 33 in June, will form part of an attack alongside Ferran Torres, Memphis, Luuk de Jong, Abde and Ferran Jutglà. Ansu is out injured, Agüero retired and his old friend Dembélé in limbo. The club's objectives are to win the Europa League and secure a top four-finish in LaLiga to make sure they qualify for next season's Champions League.