Barcelona seal pierre-emerick aubameyang transfer with arsenal

Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has sealed a deadline day move to Barcelona after undergo a medical in Spain at the eleventh hour. The Gabon international's future was placed

in serious doubt last month after he was exiled by Gunners boss Mikel Arteta following a breach of discipline ahead of their home win over Southampton. Aubameyang has not played for Arsenal

in the weeks since and was said to have been made available for a move elsewhere earlier this month. Barcelona were initially credited with an interest in his signature last week before

entering talks with the north Londoners during the final hours of the January transfer window, and now a deal has been officially completed. The 32-year-old bizarrely flew to the Spanish

city earlier on Monday in an apparent bid to force through the move despite the absence of a total agreement at club level. Arsenal and Barcelona were both said to have been left surprised

by Aubameyang's decision to fly out shortly before negotiations appeared to break down over the player's lucrative wage demands. However, the proposed switch was finally back on

ahead of Monday's 11pm deadline, and an agreement was reached. JUST IN: ANDER HERRERA ‘RULES OUT LAST-GASP TOTTENHAM MOVE’ BECAUSE OF MAN UTD Reports claims that Aubameyang joins the

five-time European champions on an initial six-month move with the option of another year. The deal will now bring his four-year association with the Gunners to an abrupt end. Xavi was said

to have identified Aubameyang as his preferred attacking target last week and would like him to play as a central striker at the Nou Camp. DON'T MISS Juventus were also believed to have

been in the frame for his services, but any move to Turin would have been dependent on Alvaro Morata leaving the club in advance of the deadline. However, the former Chelsea striker is

expected to remain at the club until at least the summer transfer window. Barcelona president Joan Laporta admitted earlier on Monday that he was confident of rubber-stamping a deal for

Aubameyang before the end of the window. "It seems that we will do it," he told Spanish reporters, before adding: "We’ve still options open. We’re working on it and we will

until the last minute." FOLLOW OUR NEW DAILY EXPRESS SPORT INSTAGRAM PAGE Meanwhile, Arsenal icon Paul Merson recently admitted that his former club would reap the rewards of shifting

Aubameyang's wage bill from their books. "I thought they might have been able to polyfill over the situation, if I'm being honest," Merson told _Sky Sports News_.

"But that hasn't happened and, I think, if you can get him off the wage bill, you have had a result. "If it's for six months, six months at £350,000 a week is a lot, a

lot of money, so I think there might be a deal along the way, and I think even Aubameyang might have to swallow a couple of pounds here." WANT THE LATEST PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS AS WE

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