Olympique de Marseille secures the signing of Emerick Aubameyang
On Wednesday, Olympique de Marseille reached an agreement to sign 34-year-old striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The French club secured his release from Chelsea without payment of a termination clause (his contract was valid until June 30, 2024). Aubameyang will sign with Marseille for a three-season deal.
Both Olympique de Marseille and Chelsea have yet to confirm the transfer, although it has been reported in both France and England. The expectation is that Aubameyang will travel to Germany on the same Wednesday, where the French team is conducting their pre-season, and undergo medical examinations the following day before being officially announced.
Aubameyang joined Chelsea in September last year, ending his seven-month stint with Barcelona. During his time at the English club, he played 21 official matches (11 as a starter, 10 as a substitute), scoring three goals and providing two assists.
Aubameyang adds to Chelsea’s list of sales
He becomes another player to join the list of transfers or releases made by Chelsea during this summer transfer window. The list includes Kanté, Koulibaly, Kovacic, Havertz, Mendy, Loftus-Cheek, Mason Mount, Pulisic, and Azpilicueta.
On the other hand, if the signing is confirmed, Aubameyang will be Marseille’s fifth reinforcement for the 2023/24 season. The French club has already secured deals for Harit, Kondogbia, Malinovskyi, and Renan Lodi, and is determined to compete for titles in the upcoming European season.
When Thomas Tuchel was still the coach at Stamford Bridge, Aubameyang was signed by Chelsea in the beginning of the 2022/23 season. He was purchased for 12 million euros (approx. R$ 62.5 million) from Barcelona with the mission of replacing Romelu Lukaku and becoming the club’s top scorer for the season.
However, amidst a highly tumultuous season, the former Borussia Dortmund player struggled to establish himself, scoring few goals and spending most of the season as a substitute. Aubameyang’s performance mirrored the collective underperformance of the team, which hindered the striker’s success.
