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London - Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has joined Arsenal for a record fee for the Gunners, a reported £56 million from Bundesliga outfit Borussia Dortmund, both clubs confirmed on Wednesday.
The 28-year-old Gabon striker, who has scored 141 goals for Dortmund since joining in 2013, signed a long-term contract with the storied London club.
His transfer fee outstrips the £46.5 million that Arsenal paid for French striker Alexandre Lacazette last August. Aubameyang's arrival is likely to lead to the departure of veteran marksman Olivier Giroud.
"Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has joined us from Borussia Dortmund on a long-term contract for a club-record fee," the statement from Arsenal said.
The club described him as "one of the world's most highly-rated strikers".
"He scored 98 goals in 144 Bundesliga games for Dortmund and had a hand in 172 goals in 213 matches in all competitions for his former club," it continued.
"That works out at an average of 96 minutes per goal or assist.
"Auba is the Gabon captain and all-time top goalscorer, and became the first Gabonese winner of the African Footballer of the Year award in 2015."
Dortmund Sporting Director Michael Zorc said: "Apart from the unpleasant events of recent weeks, we would like to remember that the story of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at BVB of more than four years as a success story.
He has done great things for Borussia Dortmund during this time, scored many important goals and is part of the team that brought the DFB Cup to Dortmund in 2017. We wish Pierre-Emerick all the best for his future at Arsenal."
Making his debut on August 10, 2013 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after signing from FC Augsburg, he made 144 Bundesliga appearances scoring 98 goals. In the 2016/17 season Aubameyang was the Bundesliga's top scorer with 31 goals.
His biggest success with the team was the Cup victory in 2017, in a 2-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt where he won and scored the match-winning penalty. In 2016, Aubameyang became the first player in the Bundesliga to be named African Footballer of the Year.
