Reports circulating on Monday suggest a notable shift in the Saudi Pro League landscape: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, the veteran Gabonese striker, is reportedly engaged in discussions with his club, Al-Qadsiah, regarding the early termination of his contract.
Having joined Al-Qadsiah after a prolific spell with Marseille, Aubameyang`s arrival in Saudi Arabia followed a season where he demonstrated he was far from finished, netting 30 goals in 51 appearances for the French side. His form continued in the Saudi Pro League, where he registered 17 goals. However, despite this output, it appears his tenure with Al-Qadsiah may be cut short.
Sources indicate that talks are progressing towards a contract termination, which would see the 36-year-old become a free agent, available to sign for any club without a transfer fee. Only final details are reportedly left to be ironed out before his status changes.
Unsurprisingly, the potential availability of a striker with Aubameyang`s track record, especially as a free agent, has not gone unnoticed. A diverse collection of clubs from across the globe are said to be monitoring the situation closely. This includes interest from within Saudi Arabia itself, as well as clubs in Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States, France`s Ligue 1, the English Premier League, Turkey`s Süper Lig, Italy`s Serie A, and Spain.
At 36, Aubameyang continues to defy expectations regarding striker longevity. His ability to consistently find the back of the net makes him an attractive proposition, even for a short-term deal, especially for clubs seeking proven firepower without the burden of a transfer fee. It seems the `retirement league` narrative, often attached to Saudi Arabia, might not entirely apply here, or perhaps Aubameyang simply wasn`t ready to hang up his continental boots just yet. His reported presence in Saint-Etienne, a former club stronghold, around the same time only fuels speculation about potential destinations, though it could equally be entirely unrelated personal travel.
Whatever the underlying reasons for the proposed termination, one thing is clear: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, the perennial goal-scorer, is once again poised to become one of the most sought-after free agents on the market, proving that age is indeed just a number when you know where the goal is.
