Aubameyang arrives in Barcelona to complete loan move

FT Desk

• Updated: 31 Jan 2022 06:00 CST
• 3 min read

Barcelona are set to complete the loan signing of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Arsenal until the end of the season.

Aubameyang has arrived in Barcelona to sign for the club and the deal will become official once the Blaugrana have managed to offload players on deadline day.

The Blaugrana have been on the lookout for a new striker all January before agreeing on a dry loan for the Gabon international for six months.

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Aubameyang becomes Barca’s third attacking signing of January, following on from the €65 buy of Ferran Torres from Manchester City and the loan purchase of Adama Traore from Wolves.

Juventus’ Alvaro Morata had been manager Xavi’s primary target for the number 9 role but a deal could not be agreed as the Spaniard was on loan in Turin from Atletico Madrid.

Aubameyang has been going through a turbulent period in his career, having been frozen out of the Arsenal squad and being stripped of the captaincy due to ill-discipline.

His last appearance for the club came on 6 December in a 2-1 away loss against Everton, with the Gabon star subsequently missing a four-match winning run in the league, during which Mikel Arteta's side scored 14 goals.

The fallout from his actions had led to a widespread acceptance that he was likely to depart in January.

With a contract that expires in 2023 and his stock at Arsenal dropping, it is possible that he has already played his last game for the club.

Aubameyang has also had a difficult past month from a health point of view. After contracting Coronavirus, he was subsequently diagnosed with “cardiac lesions” and forced to return to London from the Africa Cup of Nations for more medical examinations.

He has since recovered and is now moving to Spain in a bid to reignite his career.

The 32-year-old had been at Arsenal since joining from Dortmund in 2018 and has scored 92 goals in 163 outings for the Emirates club.