Nicolas Pepe: Arsenal's Record Signing and His Career So Far

Early Life and Career

Nicolas Pepe was born in Mantes-la-Jolie, France, on May 29, 1995. He began his football career with the local club US Mantes before joining Poitiers in 2013. In 2015, he moved to Angers, where he made his professional debut in Ligue 1.

Pepe quickly established himself as one of the most promising young players in France. In the 2016-17 season, he scored 12 goals in 37 appearances for Angers, helping the club to qualify for the UEFA Europa League.

Move to Lille

In the summer of 2017, Pepe joined Lille for a fee of €20 million. He continued to impress in Ligue 1, scoring 22 goals in 79 appearances for the club. In the 2018-19 season, he was named the Ligue 1 Player of the Year after scoring 22 goals and providing 11 assists.

Arsenal Transfer

In the summer of 2019, Arsenal signed Pepe for a club-record fee of £72 million. He made his debut for the club in the Premier League on August 11, 2019, in a 1-0 defeat to Newcastle United.

Career at Arsenal

Pepe has had a mixed start to his career at Arsenal. He has shown flashes of brilliance, but he has also been inconsistent. In the 2019-20 season, he scored 8 goals in 42 appearances for the club. In the 2020-21 season, he scored 14 goals in 47 appearances.

International Career

Pepe has represented France at the under-21 level. He made his debut for the senior team in November 2018 and has since earned 10 caps.

Conclusion

Nicolas Pepe is a talented winger with the potential to become one of the best players in the world. However, he has yet to fulfill his potential at Arsenal. If he can find consistency, he could help Arsenal challenge for major trophies in the years to come.

Nicolas Pepe