Permanent St Etienne move delights Aubameyang

Pierre Aubameyang has signed a permanent deal with St. Etienne

Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is delighted to have sealed a permanent move to St Etienne.

The 22-year-old, who was on loan at the French side, joined the club permanently from AC Milan last week.

The international striker signed a four-and-a-half-year deal, leaving him at the Ligue 1 club until June 2016.

Aubameyang, who has scored six goals for St Etienne so far this season, leaves the Italian club without making a single senior appearance.

"I am really pleased to sign permanently with St Etienne," Aubameyang said.

"It was my ambition in coming to St Etienne. This is one of the finest passages of my young career.

"I will continue to give my all for the club. Now my ambition is to continue in the same vein in the second half of the season."

Aubameyang has made the most of his loan spell from Italian giants AC Milan since joining the French club at the start of the year.

His decision is join the club permanently has also delighted St Etienne coach Christophe Galtier.

"It was a real desire of all parties. Everything was easily resolved," Galtier said.

He is currently the club's top scorer with six goals in the league and has two in the League Cup, prompting St Etienne to take the player on a permanent contract.

Aubameyang's father Pierre played over 200 matches in the French league, and also represented Gabon at senior level.

Pierre-Emerick is set to participate in the African Cup of Nations to be co-hosted by his native Gabon and Equatorial Guinea from 21 January to 12 February.