Arsenal have signed Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Borussia Dortmund in a club record £56m deal.
The Gunners had two bids for the 28-year-old rejected by Dortmund before agreeing a fee that eclipses the £46.5m July purchase of Alexandre Lacazette.
Dortmund agreed to complete the deal after striking a deal to sign Chelsea forward Michy Batshuayi on loan.
Arsenal said the 2015 African Footballer of the Year had joined on “a long-term contract”.
Aubameyang scored 141 goals in 213 games for Dortmund since 2013, including 21 in 24 matches this season.
But he was suspended by the German club for their match against Wolfsburg on 14 January for missing a team meeting.
The forward was also left out of the squad for their next game at Hertha Berlin because club officials felt he was not focused enough, but he played 90 minutes in Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Freiburg.
Aubameyang joined Dortmund from French club Saint-Etienne in 2013.
During his stay with the Bundesliga club the only major trophy he won was the German Cup in 2017.
He was named Bundesliga player of the year in 2016, and last season was the German top flight’s most prolific scorer with 31 goals.
“Apart from the unpleasant events of recent weeks, we like to remember that the story of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at BVB for more than four years was a single success story,” sporting director Michael Zorc told Dortmund’s website.
“He has done great things for Borussia Dortmund in this time, scored many important goals and is part of the team that brought the DFB-Pokal to Dortmund in 2017. We wish Pierre-Emerick all the best for his future at Arsenal.”
He has played 56 times for Gabon, scoring 23 goals.
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