Barcelona made Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang a late offer to leave Arsenal but the player chose to extend his contract instead.
Auba contract details below
Fabrizio Romano reported that Barcelona initiated contact for Aubameyang in August. However, the player made the decision to extend his contract (financial details below) with the Gunners and the Liga side moved onto Memphis Depay.
Sky Sports are now reporting Barcelona made a late move for Auba but he signed Arsenal’s extension despite their offer.
Arsenal made Aubameyang’s contract extension to 2023 official on 15 September, despite suspicions they were aiming to announce it before the Premier League kicked off on Saturday.
Aubameyang is in red-hot form following on from last season. He scored 29 goals last season, before starting 2020/21 with a Community Shield goal against Liverpool and the winning penalty in the shootout. He then opened his Premier League account on the opening day.
The striker also scored twice in Arsenal’s recent friendly against Aston Villa. One of the goal videos leaked on social media through Aubameyang’s father on Thursday night:
Auba’s banger in the friendly against Aston Villa the other day pic.twitter.com/tuE6cBOBjG
— ©️ (@artiildn) September 10, 2020
Aubameyang’s new deal is reportedly worth an initial £250,000-a-week.
With bonuses, that could go up to £300,000-a-week or more. This is likely to make the club captain the highest-paid player at the club, after Mesut Özil’s contract winds down.
Arsenal and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have finally announced he has signed a new deal, but what did they both agree to?
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is set to remain at Arsenal as club captain as Mikel Arteta builds his new team around the forward and he picks up the role of mentor to all the young talent we have coming through.
Asked about the possibility of getting Auba to sign a new contract, Arteta was always positive and now the club and player have finally confirmed the agreement.
Aubameyang: "Arsenal fans, as you know, I've just signed da ting! It's done, I'm really happy to be staying here. This is my home. It's a great day."
— Charles Watts (@charles_watts) September 15, 2020
https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1305899244390359040
In August, according to Matt Law in his Telegraph Exclusive, Aubameyang agreed to a two-year extension, taking his contract until 2023.
He will also get the £70kpw pay rise he wanted, taking him to £250kpw.
After that report, it became clear something was holding up the deal but we then had David Ornstein confirming it:
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to end speculation over Arsenal future by signing new 3yr contract, which will enable him to become best-paid #AFC player. Arteta intervention key & relations with 31yo + father fundamental to getting deal over line@TheAthleticUKhttps://t.co/dLGcRs9dXX
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) September 10, 2020
The key words there are ‘enable him to become’ best-paid Arsenal player. Mesut Ozil earns a flat £350kpw, this implies that Auba’s will be dependent on bonuses.
The deal was negotiated, Ornstein reports in his Athletic piece, by Raul Sanllehi before his departure with Huss Fahmy and Edu finalising the details.
In addition, Aubameyang has been reportedly been assured that the club will strengthen the squad, although I hardly think the club are going to tell him they’re not going to bother, so we can probably take that as fact.
“Signing for this special club was never in doubt,” Auba said. “It’s thanks to our fans, my team-mates, my family and everybody at this club that I feel like I belong here. I believe in Arsenal. We can achieve big things together. We have something exciting here and I believe the best is to come for Arsenal.”
Mikel Arteta added: “It was important for Pierre-Emerick to stay with us. He’s a superb player with an incredible mentality. Being the player to have taken the least amount of time to reach 50 goals with this club tells you everything you need to know about him and his way of working.
“He’s an important leader for the team and a big part of what we’re building. He wants to be up there with the best players in the world and leave his mark. He can achieve that here.”
Technical director Edu said: “It’s clear Auba loves the club and everything we stand for on and off the pitch. He’s obviously a very important part of the team so we’re all delighted he has committed his future to us. It’s a big boost for everyone – fans, team-mates and staff.”