Aubameyang Reflects on Chelsea Misstep: A Journey from Regret to Revival

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s controversial transfer from Barcelona to Chelsea in September 2022 was intended as a reunion with his former Borussia Dortmund manager Thomas Tuchel. However, it quickly became a regrettable chapter lasting less than a season. The striker joined the West London club for approximately £10 million, just six days before Tuchel was dismissed, leaving him in a squad and system ill-suited to his strengths.

Upon his arrival at Stamford Bridge, Aubameyang carried high expectations, but his tenure at Chelsea soon unraveled amidst managerial uncertainty and a lack of confidence from subsequent coaches. The Gabon international managed to score only three goals in 21 appearances across all competitions, with just one of those in the Premier League. By February, he was excluded from the Champions League roster by Graham Potter, marking a significant decline in his standing.

The former Arsenal captain’s difficult spell at Chelsea came to a quiet end in the summer of 2023 when he departed on a free transfer to join Marseille. Now, over two years later, Aubameyang has opened up about his regrets regarding the ill-fated decision to join Chelsea, which he attributes more to circumstance than ambition.

In a candid reflection on his Chelsea experience, Aubameyang stated to Canal+: “That was a big mistake going there. It was a f*****g big mistake.”

He elaborated on the context of the transfer: “At that time, I was going through a rough patch in Barcelona. I experienced a home break-in, and Barcelona needed to sell a player — either me or Memphis Depay. Chelsea was the only option on the table. For my family’s sake, I agreed to the move, even though it was Chelsea…”

Aubameyang initially believed his transfer might mirror the successful transition of Olivier Giroud from Arsenal to Chelsea, but he quickly recognized that his situation was different: “I thought maybe it would be okay, like Olivier Giroud’s move, but for me, it was distinct.”

In stark contrast to his prolific history at Arsenal, where he tallied 92 goals in 163 appearances and captained the Gunners to FA Cup victory in 2020, Aubameyang’s decline started after a fallout with Mikel Arteta over disciplinary issues. This conflict led to him being stripped of the captaincy and sidelined in late 2021. Following the termination of his contract, he joined Barcelona on a free transfer, where he briefly regained his form with 13 goals in half a season.

However, his time in Spain turned chaotic. Following the break-in at his home and Barcelona’s financial difficulties, a swift sale became necessary, with Chelsea’s offer emerging as the only feasible option.

Now at 36 and back with Marseille, Aubameyang’s career has experienced a remarkable revival. After leaving Chelsea in 2023, he scored 30 goals in his first season at the Stade Velodrome, becoming the standout forward in Ligue 1 and setting a new UEFA Europa League goalscoring record. A brief but lucrative stint in Saudi Arabia followed before his return to Marseille in 2025, where he continues to lead the line and inspire the next generation.

Despite the turbulent times in England, Aubameyang remains a pivotal figure for both Marseille and the Gabon national team, which is striving to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.