Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang apologises to Borussia Dortmund fans after controversial departure

The player's attempts to force through a transfer soured relations between himself and the German club

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was unveiled as an Arsenal player on Wednesday (Getty)

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has apologised for the manner of his departure at Borussia Dortmund after completing a £56m move to Arsenal on Wednesday morning.

The Gabon international, who scored 141 goals for Dortmund during his four-and-a-half-year spell at the Westfalenstadion, left under a cloud of controversy, with his attempts to force through a transfer souring relations between himself and the club.

The 28-year-old was dropped twice this season due to disciplinary reasons while fans unveiled a banner during the player’s final Dortmund game that read: “No player is bigger than our club.”

After his move to Arsenal was confirmed, Aubameyang took to Instagram to apologise for the bad blood left behind following his departure.

“First of all sorry for everything that happened in the last month,” he wrote. “But I wanted to change last summer, it did not work, but now it had to be. Maybe it was not the best way I chose, but everyone knows that Auba is crazy.

“I've made mistakes, but never with malice. I will never forget these four and a half years at Borussia Dortmund, because you all gave me the strength for the level I am now. Thanks to the whole BVB family, the fans, the club, the staff and of course my teammates!”

In his first interview with Arsenal's official website, Aubameyang expressed his delight in joining Arsenal and the chance to be reunited with former Dortmund teammate Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

“I’m really happy to be here,” he said. “Of course I can join Mkhi in this team so I’m really happy to be here in this great team.”

When asked why he had joined Arsenal, the former African Player of the Year replied: “I think the club have such a big history and they have the great players, like Thierry Henry, so it’s an example for us strikers.

“He [Henry] was fast and he scored a lot of goals, it’s really an example [for me].”

Aubameyang described his playing style as “like Henry a little bit” but added that he will “have to work a lot to be like him”.