Chelsea set to terminate Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's contract: report

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Chelsea striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will see his contract torn up, just a year after returning to London

Chelsea star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang looks on prior to the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Chelsea FC at American Express Community Stadium on October 29, 2022 in Brighton, England.
(Image credit: Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

Chelsea striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is set to have his contract terminated at the end of the season.

The Gabonese goalscorer moved back to London last summer with the Blues, when then-manager Thomas Tuchel recruited him from Barcelona. Chelsea had sent Romelu Lukaku on loan back to Inter Milan and Tuchel rekindled his relationship with Aubameyang from their Borussia Dortmund days. 

But the reunion lasted just a single match, with Tuchel sacked following defeat to Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League. Since then, Aubameyang has cut a frustrated figure under new boss Graham Potter, coming in and out of the team and since being dropped from Potter's Champions League squad. 

Chelsea striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang during the UEFA Champions League match between Chelsea and AC Milan on 5 October, 2022 at Stamford Bridge, London, United Kingdom

Aubameyang has struggled at Stamford Bridge (Image credit: James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images)

Now, Spanish outlet Sport are reporting that for the second time in 18 months, the 33-year-old will have a contract terminated, rather than be sold. 

Aubameyang infamously was jettisoned from Arsenal on the January deadline day of 2022, following a disciplinary problem at London Colney. The striker was captain of the Gunners, one of Mikel Arteta's key stars and had previously won an FA Cup with the club before signing a bumper new contract – but after returning late from an authorised trip home, he was frozen out from the squad. 

Arsenal let Aubameyang leave for Barcelona on a free transfer last year, ending his contract, which was thought to be worth around £250k a week. The forward was a big hit in La Liga, however, scoring 13 times in his Barça career.

It was believed that Aubameyang was seeking a move back to the Camp Nou this January, unsuccessfully touting his services to his former side. 

Barcelona's Gabonese midfielder Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang stands on the pitch during the Spanish league football match between FC Barcelona and Rayo Vallecano de Madrid at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on August 13, 2022.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was believed to want a move back to Barcelona in January (Image credit: PAU BARRENA/AFP via Getty Images)

The striker has managed just a single Premier League goal upon his return to English football in 12 appearances. His contract expires in 2024. 

Aubameyang is valued at €7 million by Transfermarkt. 

More Chelsea stories

Graham Potter says he won't quit the Blues, despite poor form.

Chelsea are struggling with statistics showing recently that they're the worst scorers in the top four divisions of England. Transfer rumours are linking them with moves for former stars Tammy Abraham and Romelu Lukaku. Marc Cucurella could be sold after just one season, while contract rebel Mason Mount and N'Golo Kante are targets for Liverpool. 

Chelsea have also apparently offered a swap deal to bring Joao Felix to the Bridge permanently. 

Mark White
Mark White
Content Editor

Mark White is the Digital Content Editor at FourFourTwo. During his time on the brand, Mark has written three cover features on Mikel Arteta, Martin Odegaard and the Invincibles, and has written pieces on subjects ranging from Sir Bobby Robson’s time at Barcelona to the career of Robinho. An encyclopedia of football trivia and collector of shirts, he first joined the team back in 2020 as a staff writer.