After a long period of negotiations and counter-offers, Arsenal finally won the race to sign Lille winger Nicolas Pepe on Thursday.
Arsenal came out on top after battling for Pepe’s services with other European giants such as Paris St-Germain and Manchester United. Their $93 million bid and their contract offer won out, and Pepe was announced as a Gunner on Thursday.
The Ivory Coast international is considered to be one of the top young wingers in soccer. After coming up through the Poitiers youth academy in relative obscurity and then gradually making moves to bigger French clubs such as Angers and Orleans, Pepe burst onto the scene after joining Lille on an $11.1 million transfer in 2017.
The right-winger scored 35 goals in only 74 matches with the Great Danes, impressing with his agility, velocity, and strong left foot. He was unstoppable with Lille in its 2018-19 Ligue 1 campaign, which finished with a 2nd place slot in the league, scoring 22 goals and recording 11 assists.
Now, Pepe will have the opportunity to play Premier League soccer and establish himself as Unai Emery’s biggest offensive weapons. Pressure will be high on the 24-year-old, but he undoubtedly has all of the tools to succeed at one of England’s most legendary clubs.
