Nicolas Pépé: The Ivorian Winger Who Broke African Transfer Records With His €80m Arsenal Move

Born 29 May 1995 in Mantes-la-Ville, France, Nicolas Pépé is an Ivory Coast international winger who currently plays for Villarreal in LALIGA. He represents the Elephants internationally, having made his debut in 2016. 

Pepe is a dynamic winger who stands out for his keen eye for goal, particularly evident during the 2018/19 season in France, when he scored 22 league goals playing for Lille. 

He was named in the Ligue 1 Team of the Year for 2018-19 and won the Prix Marc-Vivien Foé in 2019. 

Early years & France

Pépé’s senior career began at his local club Poitiers F.C. (Championnat de France Amateur 2) before moving in 2013 to Angers SCO (then in Ligue 2). In 2015, he spent a season on loan at US Orléans.

Lille door opens

In June 2017, Pépé signed for LOSC Lille on a five-year deal for what was reported as up to €10 million. In his first season (2017-18), he scored 13 league goals.

In the 2018-19 season, he exploded, scoring 22 league goals and providing 11 assists as Lille finished second in Ligue 1, their best result in years. His incredible season made him one of Europe’s most sought-after wingers.

In August 2019, Arsenal announced the signing of Nicolas Pépé from Lille for a reported club-record fee of £72 million (€80 million), making him the most expensive African player ever at that time.  

The deal eclipsed the previous Arsenal record purchase (Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for £56 million) and placed the 30-year-old among the most expensive Premier League signings. 

Contract details: Pepe penned a five-year deal. Arsenal reportedly structured the fee over the course of his deal, as amortisation aids financial fair play concerns (FFP).

Why Arsenal moved: After the signing, the then Gunners boss, Unai Emery, commented that Pépé “adds pace, power, and creativity, with the aim of bringing more goals.” 

Pépé’s time at Arsenal started with promise but evolved into a disaster. He made his debut as a substitute in a 1-0 away win at Newcastle on 11 August 2019.  His first start came shortly after in a 3-1 loss to Liverpool.  

His first goal for the club came from the penalty spot in a 3-2 home win against Aston Villa on 22 September 2019. 

Statistics & contributions: During his Arsenal tenure, he played around 112 matches across all competitions and scored 27 goals. 

This figure pales in comparison to expectations, as his season in Ligue 1 before joining Arsenal gave the impression that the Gunners were getting a goalscoring winger in the mould of a Mohamed Salah. 

Highlights of his Arsenal career: He was part of the Arsenal team that won the FA Cup during the 2019-20 season. He also had a brilliant run in the Europa League, scoring eight goals and providing six assists in 12 starts across two seasons. 

Challenges: Despite flashes of individual quality, Pépé struggled to deliver consistently in the Premier League. 

His dribbling was lethargic, his decision-making lacking, and his end product left a lot to be desired, calling into question his adaptation and tactical fit to Arsenal. 

In the summer of 2022, the Ivorian was loaned to OGC Nice after falling further down the pecking order. At the end of that season (2022/23), Arsenal confirmed that Pépé and the club agreed to terminate his contract by mutual consent, allowing him to depart as a free agent. 

Loan to Nice (2022-23): On 25 August 2022, Pépé moved on loan to OGC Nice for the season without an option to buy. 

Trabzonspor (2023/24): After Arsenal terminated his contract, he remained fallow for a period before Trabzonspor in the Super Lig snapped him up.

He played a single season for the Black Sea Storm, in which he scored five goals and provided two assists. 

Villarreal (Joined 2024): In the summer of 2024, he joined Villarreal as a free agent. He signed a three-year deal and earns around €3.5 million per year, according to reports. 

Pepe's earnings peaked at Arsenal, understandably so. However, he has earned a decent amount throughout his career. 

How much did Amiens pay Pepe?

In his first professional contract at Amiens, Pepe was placed on an annual salary of €390,000 (€7,500 weekly). 

How much did Lille pay Pepe?

Pepe's first Lille contract saw him earn €690,000 annually (€13,000 weekly). He received a significant pay bump in the 2018/19 season to €1.7 million (€34,000). 

How much did Amiens pay Pepe?

He earned about €6 million annually in his first two seasons at Arsenal (€115,000 weekly), which rose to €8.4 million in his third season (€162,000 weekly). 

How much did Nice pay Pepe?

Pepe was still on his Arsenal contract during his loan spell at Nice. However, he seemed to have taken a pay cut, as Capology reported that he earned €5.9 million that season (€113,000 weekly). 

How much did Trabzonspor pay Pepe?

He earned €2.1 million in his season in Turkey (€42,000 weekly)

How much are Villarreal paying Pepe?

The Ivorian currently earns about €3.1 million playing for the yellow submarines (60,000 weekly).

According to Capology, he earned approximately €34,596,162 in gross wages throughout his career.