Aubameyang Joins Barcelona On A Free Transfer From Arsenal After Reaching Agreement.

Barcelona have reportedly reach an agreement with Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang over a permanent deal.

Aubameyang would join the Spanish giants on a free transfer after a deal was agreed before Monday night’s transfer deadline, bringing a permanent end to his four-year Arsenal career.

Talks between Barcelona and Arsenal over a potential six-month loan deal with option for an additional year for the Gabonese star had earlier broken down on Monday afternoon due to salary issues.

The striker had surprising arrived Barcelona even before a deal could be agreed and was set to return to London in what's said to have been a family trip to the Spanish city.

Aubameyang's last Arsenal appearance came as a substitute on December 6 in their 2-1 league defeat away to Everton, before he was stripped of the captaincy later that month after a disciplinary isssue.

He was also left out of their squad for their warm-weather training camp in Dubai.

Arsenal were willing to allow Aubameyang - who had 18 months left on his contract and reputedly earned £350,000 a week leave the Emirates stadium, saving them around £25m in wages with his departure. 

The deal was negotiated by Jordi Cruyff and Mateu Alemany, with it taking hours for the Premier League side to be convinced of a move. Joan Laporta consistently expressed positivity about how things were going as he was interviewed throughout the day.

According to reports, an agreement has now been reached between the two clubs that will see the 32-year-old take a significant pay-cut to join the five-time European champions permanently, rather than on loan. 

He is due to be officially announced as a Barcelona player in the morning. 10:30am (NGA). 

Aubameyang's exit means that Mikel Arteta's squad will finish the season with just two recognised strikers at the club having failed to secure a replacement, with both Eddie Nketiah and Alex Lacazette out of contract in the summer.

Sources at Arsenal insist the transfer is a ‘good deal’ for the club, despite the fact the Gunners will not receive any transfer fee for the former Borussia Dortmund striker.