Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: The €63m Arsenal transfer that made Gabon proud

The Aubameyang Dortmund to Arsenal transfer was the completion of months of speculation and marked a new, exciting era for Arsenal Football Club

It was a transfer the Gunners needed at that time, as the fans clamoured for a big player signing at the club.

We explore how the Gabonese striker became one of the best in the world and a national hero for his country following his successful transfer.

Aubameyang joined Arsenal from German club Borussia Dortmund, arriving with immense expectations. 

The Gabonese forward completed his move in January 2018 for a record fee of approximately €63 million, becoming one of the top 20 most expensive African football transfers in history.

The club demonstrated their belief in his goal-scoring ability by signing him for a fee that surpassed Arsenal's previous transfer record.

His blistering form in the Bundesliga, where he won the Golden Boot, meant supporters were eagerly expecting his arrival.

The move was orchestrated by the former head of football, Raul Sanllehi, under long-serving manager Arsène Wenger in 2018.

The transfer of Aubameyang from Dortmund to Arsenal represented a significant shift in Arsenal's recruitment strategy. 

Instead of focusing on young prospects, the club opted to sign a world-class, proven goalscorer to the team.

The €63 million for Aubameyang raised a few eyebrows at first, but he immediately showed everyone why the club splashed the cash with a ton of goals. 

He quickly became the main man up front, delivering exactly what the club needed and proving to be a massive, game-changing signing.

Aubameyang began his Arsenal career with immediate impact, showcasing his trademark speed and clinical finishing. 

He quickly adapted to the pace of the Premier League, forming effective partnerships with the Arsenal midfield.

He hit the ground running by scoring his first goal on his debut against Everton, making a huge career journey.

His most prolific season came in 2018-19, when he finished as the league's joint-top scorer, sharing the Premier League Golden Boot with 22 goals, becoming one of the Top 10 African Goalscorers in Premier League History.

Aubameyang scored a total of 92 goals in 163 appearances for Arsenal in all competitions and played for the Gunners from 2018 until the 2021-2022 season. 

His ability to score from almost any position made him one of the elite strikers in world football during this period.

Aubameyang’s most successful period in North London came under manager Mikel Arteta, winning the 2020 FA Cup. 

He was inspirational throughout the tournament, having scored twice in the semi-final victory against Manchester City.

He went on to also score a brace in the final against Chelsea, securing the historic trophy for the Gunners.

His leadership qualities were formally recognised when he was given the club captaincy. This role further elevated his profile, both for Arsenal and for his home nation, Gabon, whose supporters celebrated his success deeply.

Beyond his club career, Aubameyang became a major figure in African football, most especially in Gabon. 

He became the captain of the Gabon national team, nicknamed ‘The Panthers’ and holds the record as their all-time top goalscorer. 

The former Arsenal forward has scored a total of 39 goals for the Gabon national team in 84 appearances.

His performance for club and country also earned him the CAF African Best Player award in 2015. 

His status as a prominent figure in one of the world's biggest leagues brought immense pride and recognition to Gabon.

After signing a lucrative contract extension, the relationship between Aubameyang and the club hierarchy began to deteriorate. 

Following a series of highly publicised disciplinary breaches, he was eventually stripped of the captaincy, as reported by BBC.

One of the disciplinary issues was that he returned to the club on the designated date given to him.

Following a series of issues, he was allowed to leave the club on a free transfer to Barcelona in February 2022. 

This end to his time at Arsenal did not diminish the memory of his electrifying goalscoring exploits, particularly those that followed the initial Aubameyang Dortmund to Arsenal transfer.

Aubameyang has won major honours across France, Germany, and England, demonstrating his consistent quality at the elite level.

Aubameyang's individual skill and goal-scoring ability have earned him many prestigious accolades.

He has earned numerous prestigious accolades, including the African Footballer of the Year in 2015, which acknowledges him as the continent's top player. 

He was the top scorer in the German Bundesliga in the 2016–17 season, also being named the Bundesliga Player of the Season that year. 

In the Premier League, he shared the Golden Boot as the league's top scorer in 2018–19 and he was a four-time selection for the CAF Team of the Year (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016).