PEPE IS HERE: ARSENAL OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCE RECORD SIGNING OF LILLE WINGER
Arsenal have completed the club’s record £72million transfer of Nicolas Pepe from Lille – making the Ivory Coast international their most expensive signing.
Winger Pepe has agreed a five-year contract at the Emirates having undergone a medical on Tuesday, following the two clubs settling on the fee over the weekend.
The Gunners will part with £20million now, with the following £52million being split over the next four years – Lille receiving £13million per year – to avoid smashing their budget.
Ivorian Pepe had also been on the radar of Manchester United, Liverpool, Everton and Paris-Saint Germain, while Napoli had lodged a bid, which was rejected.
It is believed the winger was convinced by Arsenal’s “sporting project”, whilst they were willing to pay the agents’ fees and commissions demanded by his team of representatives to steal the march in the transfer race.
Head coach Unai Emery said: “Nicolas is a highly-rated and talented winger who was wanted by many of the top teams in Europe.
“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.”
Welcome to The Arsenal, Nicolas Pepe 🤩
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 1, 2019
🇨🇮 #PepeIsHere ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/nXJIB9XdLW
Mirror
More Stories
HOW ‘KILLABOI’ WAS ARRESTED IN QATAR, USING FAKE GUINEAN PASSPORT
On Saturday, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) announced that it had successfully completed the extradition of Benjamin Best Nnayereugo,...
U-20 AFCON: FLYING EAGLES COACH UNVEILS 24-MAN SQUAD
Head coach of the U-20 national team, Flying Eagles, Aliyu Zubairu, has unveiled a 24-man squad for the upcoming U-20...
BREAKING: VIRGIL VAN DIJK SIGNS NEW TWO-YEAR DEAL WITH LIVERPOOL
After months of uncertainty, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has finally put an end to his future concerns by signing...
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: ARSENAL ELIMINATE REAL MADRID, SET TO FACE PSG IN SEMI-FINAL
Arsenal have knocked Real Madrid out of the UEFA Champions League with a 2-1 win at the Santiago Bernabeu on...
NPFL BANISH NASARAWA UNITED TO GOMBE, N6M FINE IMPOSED
Nasarawa United has been banned from playing at their Lafiya Township Stadium and fined N6 million due to repeated violations...
UCL: ‘MIRACLES HAPPEN,’ SAYS DORTMUND COACH, KOVAC AHEAD OF 2ND-LEG CLASH WITH BARCA
Facing a 4-0 deficit ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final second leg at home against Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund coach Niko...