'I'm here!' Aubameyang tells Barcelona fans after delayed signing
"It's Auba time!" declared Barcelona on Wednesday as they signed Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as a free agent.
The club's tweet also included a video of Aubameyang declaring "I'm here Barcelona fans! Forca Barca!"
"The player will sign a contract until June 30, 2025," said the club on their web site, adding that the deal for the 32-year-old included a 100 million euros ($113 million) buyout clause.
"I'm very happy, very happy to be here and I'm already looking forward to being on the pitch," Aubameyang told the Barca website.
Barcelona are "one of the biggest clubs in the world and that is why I have signed for Barca'"
His previous club, Arsenal, on Tuesday released Aubameyang. That cleared the way for the striker, who was already in Spain, to sign for Barcelona as a free agent outside the transfer window which closed on Monday night.
"It was a very long day, but in the end I'm here, I'm looking forward to it and I'm very happy," he said.
French-born Aubameyang is, like his father Pierre, a Gabon international. His mother was born near Madrid before moving to France as a child.
"I'm very proud especially because my family is Spanish by my mother's side," said Aubameyang.
The move gives him the set of the five major European leagues, although he never played in Serie A for AC Milan, where he began his career and starred for the youth team.
"I have experience, I played in Germany, in France, in England, so I'm here to help and give the maximum for the team," said Aubameyang.
Aubameyang is believed to have taken a significant cut on his Arsenal wage, which started at around 300,000 euros ($337,000) a week.
It was a spectacular way for Barca to end an active transfer window.
They have been busy despite their enormous debts and