Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is close to leaving Marseille for newly promoted Deportivo La Coruna, with the two clubs reportedly agreeing a €1.5m fee on Wednesday. The 37-year-old Gabon international would arrive as a marquee attacking signing as they prepare for their return to La Liga.
Foot Mercato's Santi Aouna first reported the deal, with transfer expert Matteo Moretto later confirming that only the final paperwork remains. If completed, Aubameyang’s move to Deportivo La Coruna would be his 11th senior club of his career since starting at AC Milan.
Why Marseille Released Their Top Scorer For A Cut-Price Fee
Aubameyang did not travel with Marseille for Wednesday's pre-season tour after leaving training early, with his expected departure now appearing imminent. Speaking at his press conference, manager Jean-Louis Genesio admitted the club's financial situation has influenced several transfer decisions this summer.
"When you have good players, you want to keep them, but afterwards there is also the contextual reality," Genesio said. "Before I signed, I knew what would happen, that we would need to sell players."
The striker left after scoring 14 goals in all competitions last season, a return that still made him one of Marseille’s more productive forwards despite his age. A €1.5m fee feels modest for that output, but it reflects the reality of his years and the limited commercial value left in the deal.
His exit ends his second spell at Marseille, where he enjoyed two separate stints after first arriving at the Velodrome several years ago.
Why Deportivo See Aubameyang As The Perfect Promotion Signing
Deportivo are back in La Liga after eight years of being away, and Aubameyang’s arrival settles the debate over who should lead the line after names like Alvaro Morata were linked with the vacant number nine shirt.
For a newly promoted side, his experience and proven goalscoring record made him the standout option. A veteran finisher with Champions League and Premier League experience gives Deportivo real leadership up front, the sort of signing promoted clubs rarely get for this price.
At 37, he may not score at the rate he once did, but his ability to handle late-season pressure is exactly the kind of edge a newly promoted attack usually lacks.
What A La Liga Return Means For Aubameyang
This is Aubameyang’s first proper run in Spanish football since his short, injury-hit spell at Barcelona, giving him a better chance to make a real impact in La Liga than he did last time. He wouldn’t be the only attacking outlet either, as he’d line up alongside Bil Nsongo, the 21-year-old Cameroonian who scored twice to secure Deportivo’s promotion in May.
For Deportivo, it eases the burden on Aubameyang and keeps him from having to carry the attack alone in a much tougher division than the one Nsongo has just left.
For Aubameyang, it offers something more valuable at 37: a settled role instead of a weekly battle for minutes, in a league he already knows well. Confirmation should follow within days, once both sides put the final signatures in place.
