Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has made an immediate impact on his return to Spanish football, scoring five goals and providing two assists in his first five matches for Deportivo La Coruna.
The Galician club sit sixth in the table after two wins and three draws, while their positive start has been accompanied by an attractive style of football. Aubameyang has played a central role, contributing directly to seven of Deportivo’s nine goals.
The 37-year-old joined from Marseille on a two-year contract for a transfer fee of 1.5 million euros. He scored against Elche in a 1-1 draw on 17 August, Malaga in another 1-1 draw on 24 August, and Valencia in a 3-1 victory on 30 August.
He then produced his best performance of the season against Villarreal on 5 September, scoring in a 3-2 win and supplying two assists. His latest goal came in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Getafe.
Aubameyang is now one goal behind the four players leading the scoring charts: Lamine Yamal and Raphinha of FC Barcelona, Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid and Sergio Camello of Rayo Vallecano, who have each scored six times.
The forward announced his international retirement a few days ago and can now focus entirely on his club. Deportivo La Coruna is the 11th club of his career.
Experience and fitness behind the early form
Remy Ebanega, Aubameyang’s former Gabon team-mate and the current president of the country’s professional footballers’ union, said the striker’s form was no surprise.
The former captain of the Panthers has quickly become the main attacking threat for a side in which he is one of the most experienced players. His performances have also been supported by his physical condition and sharpness.
Aubameyang’s goals have come in different ways. He scored with a header against Getafe, underlining the variety in his finishing as well as his adaptation to his new surroundings.
Patrice Neveu, who managed Gabon from 2019 to 2023, has also praised the striker’s level. For Ebanega, confidence has been a particularly important factor in Aubameyang’s output at Deportivo.
His international retirement, combined with Deportivo’s absence from European competition, should allow him to recover more effectively between matches. It will also spare him long and tiring journeys to Africa.
Thierry Mouyouma, who managed the Gabon national team from late 2023 until early 2026 and now coaches reigning Gabon champions AS Mangasport, believes Aubameyang can maintain his current level for Deportivo La Coruna.
Opponents already focusing on Aubameyang
The striker’s statistics are likely to encourage Deportivo’s upcoming opponents to pay him closer attention. Mouyouma describes Aubameyang as “one of the best forwards playing in Europe for the past decade”.
Deportivo La Coruna’s next match will come in the sixth round of the Spanish championship against Sevilla, with their in-form forward expected to be central to their hopes of extending an impressive opening to the season.