Mueez Ajao
– Chelsea have signed forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in a £12m deal from Barcelona with defender Marcos Alonso expected to go the other way.
– The Blues are also completed a loan deal for Juventus midfielder Denis Zakaria.
– The 25-year-old Swiss international would boost Chelsea’s midfield options.
Also Read: BREAKING: Chelsea and Barca reach agreement in principle for Aubameyang
– Gabon international Aubameyang scored 13 goals in 24 appearances for Barca after joining the Spanish club in February from Arsenal.
– Despite that, manager Xavi Hernandez was still keen to keep the striker, but the Catalan club’s need to raise money to invest in other areas, coupled with their depth in attack, forced them to consider offers.
FC Barcelona and Chelsea Football Club have reached an agreement on the transfer of Pierre Emerick Aubameyang for 12 million euros.
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) September 1, 2022
– The 33-year-old had a buyout clause of 100m euros (£83.4m) in his contract, but has only played eight minutes this season.
Welcome to Chelsea, Auba! 👊#AubameyangIsChelsea
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) September 1, 2022
– “I’m really happy. It’s an honour to be part of this team and I can’t wait to start,” Aubameyang told Chelsea’s website. “I have some unfinished business with the Premier League so it’s good to be back and really exciting.”
– Aubameyang scored 92 goals in 163 games in all competitions for Arsenal, but left on a free transfer after falling out with manager Mikel Arteta.
– That departure played a big part in the Gunners documentary All or Nothing.
– Only four players have scored more Premier League goals than Aubameyang’s total of 68 in the period since 31 January 2018 – the date he joined Arsenal.
– Aubameyang worked with Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel at Borussia Dortmund between 2015 and 2017.
– He scored 79 goals in 95 games under the German, 38 more than he netted under any other manager.
– “Pierre-Emerick is an elite striker with a proven track record in the Premier League and his arrival strengthens our squad, giving us new attacking options,” Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly said. “We are thrilled to have Pierre-Emerick on board with us in the new era at Chelsea and we’re really looking forward to working with him.”
– On a busy final day of the transfer window for Chelsea, the club also announced the departures on permanent deals of Billy Gilmour and Kenedy to Brighton and Real Valladolid, respectively.
Billy Gilmour has completed a permanent transfer to Brighton & Hove Albion. ✍️
Thank you and good luck, Billy! 💙
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) September 1, 2022
Kenedy has signed for Real Valladolid on a permanent deal.
Good luck for the future, Kenedy! 🤝
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) September 1, 2022
– Chelsea were also reportedly set to sanction the departure of Marcos Alonso to Barcelona.
– This summer the Blues have brought in French defender Wesley Fofana for a fee in the region of £70m, England forward Raheem Sterling from Manchester City for £50m, Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli for £34m, English midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka from Aston Villa for £20m, Spain left-back Marc Cucurella from Brighton for £60m and Italian midfielder Cesare Casadei from Inter Milan.
– The deal for Aubameyang means Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly has spent almost £250m in his first transfer window since buying the club from Roman Abramovich.
Our newest recruit, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang! 😎 #AubameyangIsChelsea pic.twitter.com/ptrjqecDz2
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) September 1, 2022
All the feels! 😁#AubameyangIsChelsea pic.twitter.com/Cx3hsrhhRw
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) September 1, 2022
#️⃣9️⃣ #AubameyangIsChelsea pic.twitter.com/heVCX5mxQc
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) September 1, 2022
