Borussia Dortmund Rule Out Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Sale Amid Arsenal Interest
Borussia Dortmund have moved to shut down speculation surrounding Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s future, insisting their prolific striker will not be sold during the January transfer window despite mounting interest from some of Europe’s top clubs, including Arsenal.
Aubameyang, 26, has been in sensational form this season, scoring 27 goals and providing six assists across all competitions. His pace, lethal finishing and consistent displays have made him one of the most sought-after forwards in world football. Reports in recent weeks have linked the Gabon international with a potential move to the Premier League, where Arsenal are said to be monitoring his situation closely.
However, Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke made it clear in an interview with *Bild* that the club have no intention of entertaining offers, regardless of the financial incentives.
“In all honesty, even if such an offer were to arrive—€100 million or more—it would not matter much to us,” Watzke said. “We simply will not sell Auba.”
The statement leaves little doubt about Dortmund’s stance. The Bundesliga side, currently pushing to secure Champions League qualification and still competing in domestic and European competitions, view Aubameyang as indispensable. His partnership with Marco Reus and Henrikh Mkhitaryan has been at the heart of the club’s attacking success under coach Thomas Tuchel.
Arsenal’s reported interest is unsurprising. Arsène Wenger’s side have been seeking to bolster their frontline options, with questions raised over Olivier Giroud’s consistency in leading the attack. Aubameyang’s speed and goal-scoring ability would make him an ideal fit for the Premier League, but Dortmund’s refusal to negotiate appears to have ended any immediate hope of a transfer.
Since joining Dortmund from Saint-Étienne in 2013, Aubameyang has developed into one of the Bundesliga’s most feared strikers. He netted 25 goals in all competitions last season and has taken his game to another level this campaign, leading the scoring charts in Germany. His form also earned him the 2015 African Footballer of the Year award, edging out Manchester City’s Yaya Touré.
For Dortmund, retaining Aubameyang is about more than resisting big-money offers—it is a statement of ambition. The club, who lost Robert Lewandowski to Bayern Munich in 2014, are determined to keep their key players if they are to challenge for silverware at home and in Europe. Watzke’s firm response to the speculation suggests the club has learned from past experiences and is unwilling to risk destabilising its squad mid-season.
While a summer move cannot be completely ruled out, for now Aubameyang remains central to Dortmund’s plans. The forward has consistently spoken about his happiness at Signal Iduna Park, though he has also admitted in past interviews that a move to Spain—particularly Real Madrid—would be a dream in the future.
As things stand, however, Borussia Dortmund have drawn a clear line: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will not be leaving this winter, regardless of the size of the cheque on the table.
