‘Going to Chelsea was a big F***** mistake’ – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on Stamford Bridge stint | OneFootball

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (36) has reflected on his difficult spell at Chelsea, admitting on Troopz’s Jamaica charity stream that joining the club in 2022 was a “f**** big mistake”. The Olympique de Marseille striker opened up on the chaotic circumstances that pushed him towards Stamford Bridge for what became a short and unhappy season.

Aubameyang explained that he was emerging from a deeply unsettling period at Barcelona, where he and his family were the victims of a violent home invasion in Castelldefels. The attackers beat the Gabon international, breaking his jaw, and left lasting psychological scars. At the same time, Barcelona needed to offload either Aubameyang or Memphis Depay, and Chelsea were the only club to make a concrete offer.

“That was a big mistake going there,” he said. “I wasn’t in a good moment at Barcelona. I had the break-in, and Barca needed to sell a player. The only option was Chelsea, so for my family, I said OK—even if it was Chelsea.”

A key factor behind the move was the prospect of reuniting with Thomas Tuchel, his former coach at Borussia Dortmund. But Tuchel was sacked within days of Aubameyang’s arrival, leaving him to navigate a turbulent season under Graham Potter as Chelsea struggled through the early months of the BlueCo era.

Aubameyang managed just three goals in 21 appearances during the club’s chaotic 2022–23 campaign and has since spoken of the lingering trauma and sleepless nights that affected his form.

The 36-year-old ultimately moved on after one season, enjoying a revival at Marseille following a brief stint in Saudi Arabia. Now back at the Vélodrome, he says he has rediscovered his joy: “It was different for me. But now, I’ve found happiness again.”GFFN | George Boxall