OFFICIAL: Pepe joins Arsenal

Nicolas Pepe has joined Arsenal from Lille, the English side have confirmed. It is reported to be for around 80 million euros. 

The Londoners announced the signing of the French born Ivorian international on social media on Thursday afternoon. He also becomes the club's record transfer previously held by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. He was brought to the club from Dortmund for 63 million euros. 

Pepe will wear the number 19 shirt and has signed a five year deal so he will be 29 at the end of his contract in 2024.

The 24 year-old forward spent the last two seasons at Lille in which he scored 37 goals in 79 appearances.  Last term, he helped Lille finish second in Ligue 1 last season just behind PSG thanks to his 23 goals and 12 assists in 41 matches. It was always very difficult for Lille to keep hold of him. In fact, the club's president, Gerard Lopez, said recently that his departure was imminent and that is what has happened.

The player has 15 caps for Ivory Coast, the first of which he got in 2016, as well as four goals.

"Nicolas is a highly-rated and talented winger who was wanted by many of the top teams in Europe," Gunners head coach Unai Emery told his club's official website. "Signing a top-class winger has been one of our key objectives in this transfer window and I'm delighted he's joining. He will add pace, power and creativity, with the aim of bringing more goals to our team."

 

August 1, 2019