Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang completed his much-anticipated free transfer to Barcelona on Wednesday, bringing an end to a whirlwind 48 hours in which negotiations nearly broke down over the forward’s salary costs.

Barcelona said they agreed to a three-and-a-half-year contract with the option to opt out of the deal in June 2023. His buyout clause is set at €100 million.

Arsenal terminated the remaining 18 months of Aubameyang’s contract by mutual consent on Tuesday, with the player waiving future earnings of around £350,000 per week.

His departure could save the Gunners up to £27 million over that span, The Athletic’s James McNicholas and Amy Lawrence report.

Meanwhile, Barcelona could end paying Aubameyang just £1.6 million this season, according to BBC Sport’s Guillem Balague. The 32-year-old was reportedly happy to take any payment to make the deal happen.

Aubameyang traveled to Barcelona in anticipation of the move Monday, but talks over a potential loan deal reportedly collapsed later in the day.

Arsenal had apparently agreed to waive any fee as long as Barcelona covered the majority of Aubameyang’s salary. But the difference was too great for the Blaugrana, especially with Ousmane Dembele still on the books. Dembele, whose contract expires in June, turned down two offers to leave Barca in January, club president Joan Laporta said Tuesday.

Arsenal and Barcelona reportedly resurrected negotiations hours before the transfer deadline, with the Gunners desperate to offload a player who was stripped of the captaincy for disciplinary reasons earlier in the season.

Laporta admitted the documents required to finalize the transfer arrived just one minute before the deadline.

Aubameyang’s last appearance for Arsenal came as a late substitute in their 2-1 loss to Everton on Dec. 6. After a late return from a club-sanctioned trip to France to visit his ill mother, manager Mikel Arteta left Aubameyang out of Arsenal’s following six games.

The forward later joined Gabon’s national team at the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, where he tested positive for COVID-19. Gabon sent him home after discovering a heart condition related to the virus.

Aubameyang, who joined Arsenal from Borussia Dortmund in 2018 for a then-club-record £56 million, leaves a complicated legacy in north London. He won the Premier League Golden Boot alongside Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah in 2018-19 and the FA Cup in 2020, and he scored 92 goals in 162 appearances across all competitions.

In September 2020, Aubameyang signed a new three-year contract that eased the blow of Mesut Ozil’s eventual exit later that season. He vowed to become a “legend” of the club like Thierry Henry and “leave a legacy” but struggled to earn his keep. With just four goals in 14 Premier League appearances this term, Aubameyang lost the patience of the fans and manager, bolting at the earliest opportunity for Barcelona.

“Thank you for making London home for myself and my family for the past four years,” Aubameyang wrote on Instagram. “We went through ups and downs together, and your support meant everything to me. Having the chance to win trophies and the honor of being the captain of this club is something I will forever keep in my heart.

“I’ve always been 100% focused and committed on doing everything I can for this club, which is why leaving without a real goodbye hurts, but that is football.”

He’ll now competes for minutes alongside the likes of Ansu Fati, fellow signing Ferran Torres, and Memphis Depay up front.

With the January transfer window slamming shut on Monday night, theScore ranks the 20 best moves made across the game’s top leagues.

20. Chris Wood ?? Newcastle United

Details: Signed from Burnley for reported £25M fee

In a vacuum, signing Wood isn’t exactly the kind of huge swing you’d expect from a club brandished as the wealthiest in the world following its recent Saudi-led takeover. The 30-year-old striker only has three Premier League goals this campaign, after all. But when you’re in a relegation scrap, every little bit counts, and paying a negligible fee – by their nouveau-riche standards – to rid a direct rival of its starting center-forward could help make the difference between top-flight survival and life in the Championship. It’s entirely possible that Wood’s signing could be deemed a success even if he never finds the net for Newcastle. this season. That’s exactly the type of calculated signing you can make when money is no obstacle.

19. Anel Ahmedhodzic ?? Bordeaux

Details: Initial loan from Malmo with reported obligation to buy

The club that helped foster the talents of Jules Kounde, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Yacine Adli is at it again. Ahmedhodzic, 22, had been linked with the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea, and AC Milan in recent months but instead opted for a more modest switch to Bordeaux, where he’ll have the opportunity to continue developing. An imposing center-back with impressive athleticism, the Bosnian international knows how to leverage his physical skills – and he’ll only continue to get stronger, too. This is almost certainly a stepping stone to a more opulent transfer for Ahmedhodzic, making it a win-win for everyone.

18. Samuele Ricci ?? Torino

Details: Initial loan from Empoli with obligation to buy

Torino very quietly made one of the most astute signings of the January window, adding a 20-year-old central midfielder who has already shown enormous growth potential. Ricci, a tidy dribbler who developed through Empoli’s prolific academy, has featured regularly throughout the Italian youth setup. In the mold of Marco Verratti and Manuel Locatelli, he’s calm and composed on the ball, especially in tight spaces, and is always eager to receive a pass in front of the defense. Ricci’s move, which will reportedly become permanent for a very modest €11 million, should help fellow midfielders Tommaso Pobega and Sasa Lukic race forward into the penalty area while the young Italian holds down the fort.

17. Romain Faivre ?? Lyon

Details: Signed from Brest for reported €15M fee

Lyon had to act quickly to address the glaring hole Bruno Guimaraes’ departure created – more on that later. They couldn’t have done much better than procuring Tanguy Ndombele and Faivre. The former – back in a familiar setting – should be able to relaunch a once-promising career, while the latter has established himself as one of the finest creators in Ligue 1 this campaign. Faivre is one of just seven players in France’s top flight with at least five goals and five assists on the campaign, and amid all the ungodly cash flying around, Les Gones have seemingly pulled off a coup in adding the 23-year-old attacking midfielder. His signing also helps account for Rayan Cherki’s potential departure.

16. Stephen Eustaquio ?? FC Porto

Details: Initial loan from Pacos de Ferreira with option to buy

Canada’s most talented midfielder now has an opportunity to shine with Porto, one of Portugal’s biggest clubs. Eustaquio, 25, has taken the long road to the top, first playing for low-tier sides in Portugal before trying his luck in Mexico. The move to Cruz Azul in 2019 backfired – Eustaquio was out injured for the majority of his time there – but he rediscovered himself at Pacos de Ferreira. Few outside of the district of Porto would’ve recognized him before he made the giant leap forward with the Canadian national team. Seventeen of his 18 total international appearances came in 2021, a huge year for him personally but also for the country’s program. Canada’s on the brink of advancing to the World Cup for the first time since 1986, and Eustaquio’s vertical passing and control in midfield have been a big part of this qualification campaign.

15. Lucas Digne ?? Aston Villa

Details: Signed from Everton for reported £25M fee

Steven Gerrard’s presence is paying serious dividends. Digne, a French international who also drew Chelsea’s interest in January, said upon completing his transfer that he moved to Villa Park “for the manager.” After his relationship with former Everton bench boss Rafa Benitez soured, having a coach who appreciates his obvious talent will be a welcome change. The Toffees’ loss is Aston Villa’s substantial gain. The 28-year-old left-back is an upgrade on Matt Targett in both phases of play, offering a dangerous attacking threat while never shunning his defensive responsibilities. Digne’s a particularly sturdy tackler, too, which will be a hit with the Villa faithful.

14. Sergio Oliveira ?? Roma

Details: Initial loan from Porto with option to buy

Oliveira has already made an immediate impact at Roma, scoring two goals in as many games since joining the club from Porto, but his attacking influence has been a bonus. Roma already have several players who can find the net. The club’s biggest issue has been inconsistency and a lack of guile – something Jose Mourinho hasn’t been shy about openly questioning throughout the season. Oliveira, a dogged box-to-box competitor, made a point to highlight the winning “mentality” that he derived at Porto when introduced in the Italian capital. “I am coming here from a club, Porto, where losing is not allowed and is always a problem to be dealt with,” he said. “The target is to help improve the mentality and the ambition here.”

13. Ricardo Pepi ?? FC Augsburg

Details: Signed from FC Dallas for reported $20M fee

The focus from a North American perspective was, naturally, that Pepi’s move marked an MLS record for guaranteed money paid for a homegrown player. But the fee also smashed Augsburg’s own transfer record as the club endeavors to develop exciting, young talent in Bavaria. Pepi’s rise thus far has been rapid. He was named MLS Young Player of the Year for his team-best 13 strikes for FC Dallas, as well as U.S. Soccer Young Male Player of the Year for the three goals and two assists he recorded since his international debut in September. Pepi may need time to settle in Germany, but the long-term payoff of this move promises to be huge.

12. Anthony Martial ?? Sevilla

Details: Loan from Manchester United until the end of the season

For a team that wants to close the gap with league-leading Real Madrid, Sevilla have a modest record in front of goal. Rafa Mir is the Andalusians’ top La Liga scorer with six goals – about one-third the amount tallied by Karim Benzema and exactly half of Vinicius Junior’s haul – and the side is averaging fewer shots on target per game than Rayo Vallecano. Cue the arrival of Martial, a player who’s desperate for minutes and will look to establish himself as the main attacking force down the left, ahead of 33-year-old Papu Gomez. When Martial was a consistent starter for Manchester United in the 2019-20 Premier League season, he had 17 goals and six assists.

11. Ferran Torres ?? Barcelona

Details: Signed from Manchester City for reported €55M fee

Barcelona president Joan Laporta heralded Torres’ arrival at Camp Nou as the start of a revolution. “We are back as big players in the market,” Laporta told reporters on Jan. 3. It remains to be seen if that’s the case. Barcelona couldn’t even register Torres until they negotiated outbound transfers and trimmed their payroll. What’s clear, though, is the player’s talent. Torres is an efficient attacker who can play anywhere across the front line, and at 21, he represents the future Barcelona are trying to build.

10. Dejan Kulusevski ?? Tottenham Hotspur

Details: Initial loan from Juventus with €35-million option to buy

Fabio Paratici is banking on his familiarity with Juventus to generate a positive impact in north London, as Tottenham nabbed both Rodrigo Bentancur and Kulusevski hours before the January window slammed shut on Monday. Bentancur is a solid, if perhaps unspectacular, midfielder who will add vigor and balance to Spurs’ positional group. But of the Juve duo signed on deadline day, Kulusevski is the crown jewel. The versatile Swedish international, 21, proved he could be a dominant attacking force when he broke onto the scene with a spectacular season at Parma. Kulusevski’s career has stagnated since then, but at his best, he’s an explosive athlete who combines speed, balance, and crafty dribbling to great effect.

9. Adama Traore ?? Barcelona

Details: Initial loan from Wolves with reported €30M option to buy

Since the club’s relationship with Ousmane Dembele is now completely deteriorated, it made sense for Barcelona to pursue another winger in the transfer market, even if it took some more creative accounting to make the finances work. In welcoming La Masia graduate Traore back to Catalonia, Barca are getting arguably the best pure dribbler in the game, full stop. Among qualified players, the strapping Spaniard’s rate of 5.21 successful dribbles per 90 minutes is unrivaled across Europe’s top five leagues this season. There is literally nobody better in one-on-one situations. With Lionel Messi in Paris and Ansu Fati spending much of the campaign out injured, the Blaugrana are desperately in need of someone who can unsettle the opposition defense by beating his marker.

8. Philippe Coutinho ?? Aston Villa

Details: Initial loan from Barcelona with reported €40M option to buy

It’s safe to say Coutinho wouldn’t have joined Villa if not for Steven Gerrard. The two played together at Liverpool, and Gerrard saw the Brazilian midfielder’s excellence firsthand before he suffered a slow and painful decline at Barcelona. “You don’t lose talent. The key thing for Phil is that he needs to be in a place where he feels loved,” Gerrard said after his star signing recorded a goal and an assist in a remarkable cameo appearance against Manchester United. Now 29, Coutinho has a great opportunity to kick-start his career under a manager who appreciates his skills and demands the same swift, forward-thinking brand of football the midfielder loves to play.

7. Lorenzo Insigne ?? Toronto FC

Details: Joining on free transfer from Napoli at the end of the season

Insigne is reportedly set to earn €11.5 million per season over the next four years in Toronto, an exorbitant deal that he couldn’t possibly get in his native Italy, where he’s spent his entire career. Napoli, his hometown club, were only offering around €3.5 million. So it’s easy to understand why he opted to move to Major League Soccer at 30 years old, and he’s arguably an even bigger signing than Sebastian Giovinco was in 2015. Insigne is still a regular for the Italian national team, captain for title-chasing Napoli, and in the prime of his career.

6. Denis Zakaria ?? Juventus

Details: Signed from Borussia Monchengladbach for €8.6M fee

Juventus learned the hard way that free transfers aren’t free. Aaron Ramsey earned €7 million a season after joining from Arsenal, Emre Can received a staggering €16-million signing-on fee in 2018 before exiting two years later, and Adrien Rabiot arrived from Paris Saint-Germain on another bloated contract in 2019. So, this time, they made a preemptive move for pending free agent Zakaria, locking him down now to avoid the inevitable auction for his services in the summer. Juventus agreed to pay a nominal €4.5 million to Borussia Monchengladbach and an additional €4.1 million in related costs to recruit the 25-year-old midfielder while handing a four-and-a-half-year contract that pays him a reported €3 million per season. That’s a reasonable amount for a player who should add much-needed bite to Juventus’ midfield.

5. Robin Gosens ?? Inter Milan

Details: Initial loan from Atalanta with reported €25M obligation to buy

In terms of value, Inter’s deal for one of Serie A’s most prolific wing-backs ranks high among transfers across Europe’s top leagues this winter. The Nerazzurri structured the deal so they can get their finances in order before paying the fee in full – a necessary evil given their recent attempt to issue new bonds and rework debt. Once fit, Gosens will replace converted wing-back Ivan Perisic on the left flank, where he’ll lend a greater hand defensively than his Croatian counterpart. The 27-year-old German has only made five starts this season because of a debilitating hamstring injury, but he’ll be available for the crucial title run-in.

4. Julian Alvarez ?? Manchester City

Details: Signed from River Plate for reported £14M fee, loaned back

After trying to sign Harry Kane and Cristiano Ronaldo in the summer transfer window, Manchester City shelved plans for immediate assistance up front by signing and loaning back 22-year-old forward Alvarez. City may attempt to bring in Erling Haaland next summer, but at least they can do so without feeling desperate. Unlike some of their random signings from South America, the reigning Premier League champions reportedly have no intention of flipping Alvarez for a quick profit. He’s already made his debut for Argentina, and at River, he plays in a high-tempo system that mirrors Guardiola’s City.

3. Dusan Vlahovic ?? Juventus

Details: Signed from Fiorentina for initial €81.6M fee

Juventus may have paid a hefty fee to secure Vlahovic, but it’s certainly a bet worth making. The 22-year-old scoring sensation from Fiorentina recently tied Cristiano Ronaldo’s Serie A record of 33 goals in a calendar year. In Juventus’ grasp is the most coveted attacking prospect not named Erling Haaland or Kylian Mbappe, a physical specimen who will lead the club’s sagging offense with refreshing aplomb and become the new face of the franchise. Juventus realized halfway through the season that they couldn’t rely on Alvaro Morata or Moise Kean to score goals regularly, and in Vlahovic, they’ve found a player for the present and future.

2. Luis Diaz ?? Liverpool

Details: Signed from FC Porto for reported £37.5M fee

Liverpool went about these negotiations quietly. There was no public unveiling or tracking of incoming flights. Diaz was in Argentina for Colombia’s latest World Cup qualifier, unable to travel to Liverpool to finalize the deal, so the club sent its reps to South America instead and arranged a medical there before putting pen to paper. That’s how much they wanted to complete this signing. Putting aside Diaz’s own merits as a left-sided attacker with 14 goals and four assists in 18 Primeira Liga matches this season, his presence instantly gives Liverpool depth in attack and an alternative to either Sadio Mane or Mohamed Salah, who could allow their contracts to expire at the end of next season. If either of them walks away, Diaz will step in and offer the same electrifying output up front. Liverpool have been proactive here, and it should pay off.

1. Bruno Guimaraes ?? Newcastle United

Details: Signed from Lyon for reported £40M fee

Newcastle’s first transfer window under Saudi ownership was a success, and landing Guimaraes was their biggest coup of all. The Magpies warded off competition from Arsenal and Juventus to complete a deal for the 24-year-old Brazilian international midfielder. Guimaraes will help Newcastle retain possession and give his team the control it’s lacked in games thus far under manager Eddie Howe. The higher-ups have reportedly been scouting Guimaraes for several years, so they know what they’re getting. He’s not a name they found on transfermarkt.com – Guimaraes just wasn’t within Newcastle’s reach until they came into some money in October.

Activity in the transfer market reached a crescendo as the deadline approached Monday. Some clubs got their business done in time, while others preferred to stand pat. Here, theScore nominates the biggest winners and losers of the January window.

Winners: Juventus

Maurizio Arrivabene warned the fans when he accepted the role as Juventus’ new CEO last summer that costs would have to come under control and that the club couldn’t spend frivolously to chase any more titles. But over the first half of the season, it became painfully clear to upper management that changes had to be made, and that spending money could well mean saving money in the long term.

By acquiring Dusan Vlahovic for an initial €81.6 million, including agents’ fees and solidarity payments, the Bianconeri moved immediately to kick-start their struggling attack, which ranks a worrying 11th in Serie A scoring. They then created some financial security with the sales of Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur before reinvesting a portion of the potential €70 million in proceeds in box-to-box midfielder Denis Zakaria. Somehow, the Serie A giants also managed to offload Aaron Ramsey, whose bloated annual wages of around €7 million weighed on the club’s coffers.

Juventus completed all of these moves within the final week of the transfer window, overhauling their squad in one fell swoop and turbo-charging their chances of qualifying for the Champions League. That’s a prerequisite for the club, which must keep revenue from falling and avoid incurring yet more losses on top of the €210 million that holding company Exor agreed to cover last year.

The Old Lady is just a single point off of fourth place, and with Vlahovic now leading the line, Paulo Dybala in support, and Zakaria set to dominate the midfield areas, this team suddenly looks like a cohesive, legitimate threat.

Losers: Arsenal

Arsenal are in the throes of a five-team race for fourth place. Having been shut out of the Champions League for the past four seasons, it’s imperative they return as soon as possible to Europe’s biggest stage. So, it’s peculiar they decided to sit tight during the transfer window, preferring to thin their squad instead of offering manager Mikel Arteta more options at such a crucial juncture of the campaign.

Getting Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang off the books is a positive given he was earning an unseemly £350,000 per week while performing well below what’s expected of one of the Premier League’s highest earners. The Gunners can also feel relieved they no longer have to put up with any more of his disciplinary issues, the last of which cost him the captaincy and any goodwill he had with supporters.

But Arsenal are lighter in attack than they were to start the season. They couldn’t sign a replacement for Aubameyang because negotiations ended too late in the transfer window. So, it’s up to pending free agents Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah – who’ve combined for just 10 goals this season – to lead the line. That’s … not great.

Arteta also has just three senior center-backs available to him after sanctioning the departures of Pablo Mari and Calum Chambers. Neither was a difference-maker, to be sure, but an injury to either Ben White or Gabriel would now seriously threaten Arsenal’s growth as a defensively responsible unit. Arteta’s done a good job thus far to shore up the back line, and it’d be a great shame to see it come undone with so much on the line.

Winners: Newcastle United

Manager Eddie Howe has no excuses now. Newcastle’s new Saudi owners sanctioned more than £78 million in signings – more than any other Premier League side – to retool the club’s defense, midfield, and attack. They made targeted acquisitions with the sole aim of balancing a team that has, up until now, lacked stability at the back, rigor in the middle, and reliable scoring up front.

Newcastle could afford to activate Chris Wood’s £25-million release clause, even if the 30-year-old striker never imagined anyone paying that much to sign him. It was less about adding Wood to the roster and more about taking away a key player from relegation rivals Burnley.

That’s not to say the towering striker won’t make a difference for Newcastle. He’s the perfect target for a team that now has established crossers at the full-back positions. Fellow acquisitions Kieran Trippier and Matt Targett love to play the ball off the ground, and they’ll offer Howe the width his team needs to stretch opponents.

The last-minute addition of towering defender Dan Burn is also a shrewd piece of business. Burn is back at his boyhood club after starring in central defense for Brighton & Hove Albion, where he made inroads as a solid passer in Graham Potter’s progressive system and disproved preconceptions that a tall player can’t play nice football.

But the arrival of Brazilian midfielder Bruno Guimaraes for a reported £40 million is the biggest of all, especially with pivot Isaac Hayden out long term with a knee injury and Swiss Army knife Joelinton set to miss time. Guimaraes, a standout for Lyon this season, is a box-to-box dynamo with the composure to hold onto the ball in tricky situations, break up plays, and make progressive runs. Newcastle badly needed an all-action midfielder to reinforce their bid for survival, and they’ve got it.

Losers: Fiorentina ultras

Here’s the thing about ultras: They can provide an incredible atmosphere, the soundtrack to an incredible season, and they’ll travel the lengths of the world to follow their team. But almost always, there’s a contingent of hardcore supporters that drive the kind of hateful, racist protests we witnessed last week when Vlahovic was in the process of joining Juventus from Fiorentina.

Police set up surveillance around the player’s home in Florence after ultras unfurled a threatening banner that read, “Your bodyguards won’t save you, gypsy. It’s over for you.” The same thing happened in 2020 when ultras threatened Federico Chiesa upon his move to Juventus.

Fiorentina’s historic rivalry with Juventus reached a fever pitch in 1990, the year La Viola allowed Roberto Baggio to leave for their northern Italian adversaries. Rioters filled the streets and threw Molotov cocktails at Fiorentina’s headquarters as the deal took place.

While the response to Vlahovic wasn’t as physically violent, it once again revealed the dirty underbelly of Italian football and the problems with ultra culture.

Winners: North Americans

More players from Major League Soccer graduated to the big leagues this month; nearly all of them are 22 years old or younger.

Ricardo Pepi, the 19-year-old scoring sensation for the United States, joined the Bundesliga’s FC Augsburg in January in a deal worth up to $20 million, the highest amount ever paid for a homegrown American player. Augsburg likely took notice of the teenage striker after his heroics with the national team in October. Pepi scored and added two assists on his international debut – a 4-1 comeback win over Honduras in World Cup qualifying – and netted twice to single-handedly snatch victory over Jamaica. The United States was struggling for goals until Pepi burst onto the scene.

Just before the window closed, 18-year-old left midfielder Kevin Paredes linked up with Wolfsburg and 20-year-old left-back George Bello moved to Arminia Bielefeld, and although Canadian lynchpin Stephen Eustaquio is a little older at 25, he’s ready for the opportunity that awaits him on loan at Porto.

North America’s youngest and brightest players are an ambitious bunch. They’re also smart, having all joined clubs where they can expect to play meaningful minutes.

Loser: Ousmane Dembele

The ultimatum given to Dembele was a bit harsh: either sign a new deal or leave before Jan. 30. Xavi had spent the last few months praising the French winger, seeing him as a key part of his project at Barcelona. But the time had come for a decision. Dembele’s representatives couldn’t reach a timely agreement, and the club showed him the door.

Except there were no serious takers. Manchester United expressed no interest in signing Dembele, according to The Guardian’s Fabrizio Romano. Chelsea “never opened talks,” Romano added. Tottenham were linked with Dembele but were never a realistic destination. Talks with Paris Saint-Germain – which reportedly started as late as Sunday – never went anywhere. Dembele wouldn’t join Arsenal as a makeweight in Barcelona’s negotiations for Aubameyang.

Dembele said he wouldn’t give in to “any kind of blackmail.” So now, with just a few months remaining on his contract with Barcelona, he’s a sitting duck, facing the likely prospect of seeing out the rest of this wretched five-year spell in the stands. He’s missed so much time already – blunted by a total of 12 injuries since joining the Blaugrana as Neymar’s replacement in 2017 – and was rarely decisive even when healthy. But this is sad by any standard.