After enduring a challenging time at Chelsea, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has bid farewell to the club and made his way to Marseille in the French league.
Chelsea agreed to release Aubameyang on a free transfer, having acquired him from Barcelona a year ago with high hopes. However, the Gabonese star couldn't establish himself as expected at Stamford Bridge.
Aubameyang, who previously enjoyed a fruitful partnership with Thomas Tuchel during their time at Borussia Dortmund, was one of the signings brought in by Todd Boehly upon Tuchel's arrival at Chelsea. Yet, the departure of Tuchel at the beginning of the league season brought about a change in Aubameyang's fortunes. He featured in only 21 games across all competitions, often limited to brief appearances on the field, and managed to score just three goals during his time at the club.
Recently, Aubameyang returned to Chelsea's headquarters in Cobham after a short break, only to receive the news from Mauricio Pochettino that he did not feature in the manager's plans. As the rest of the team prepared to travel to the United States, Aubameyang faced the reality of parting ways with the club.
The 34-year-old forward now finds himself joining Marseille, where he will lead the club's attack alongside former Arsenal teammates Alexis Sanchez and Matteo Guendouzi, who reunite with him in France.
For Chelsea, Aubameyang's departure represents a loss, considering the significant sum of 13 million Gini spent on acquiring him just ten months ago. Sending him away on a free transfer without generating any revenue underscores the challenges faced by the club in fully utilizing the player's potential during his tenure at Stamford Bridge.
As Aubameyang embarks on a new chapter with Marseille, both he and the French club anticipate a successful partnership, hoping to make an impact on the domestic and European stages. Meanwhile, Chelsea will assess their options as they seek to fill the void left by the departing forward and continue their quest for success in the upcoming season.