Arsenal sign striker Nicolas Pepe in club record deal

Nicholas Pepe's signing by Arsenal for 72 million pounds breaks two records. He is now the most expensive buy in Arsenal's history. He is also the most expensive African in the Premier League.

Nicolas Pepe has become the most expensive African footballer of all time with this transfer deal (Twitter/premierleague)

Arsenal have signed forward Nicolas Pepe from French club Lille for a club-record fee, the Premier League side said on Thursday.

Welcome to The Arsenal, Nicolas Pepe 🤩

🇨🇮 #PepeIsHere ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/nXJIB9XdLW

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 1, 2019

Financial details of the transfer were not revealed but British media reported it was around 72 million pounds ($87.39 million), eclipsing the 56 million pounds paid to Borussia Dortmund for striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang last year.

This would make him the most expensive African player of all time, eclipsing Riyad Mahrez and Cedric Bakambu’s transfers in recent years. Till now, Manchester City’s Mahrez was the most expensive African footballer in the Premier League.

“Nicolas is a highly-rated and talented winger who was wanted by many of the top teams in Europe,” Arsenal manager Unai Emery said in a statement.

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“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.”

The 24-year-old Ivory Coast international signed a five-year deal and will wear the number 19 shirt at the London club.

Pepe, who was also linked with many European clubs in the close season, scored 22 goals in Ligue 1 last season — second only to Paris St Germain’s Kylian Mbappe who scored 33 goals — and also grabbed 11 assists.

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“Being here is very emotional because it has not been easy for me,” said Pepe. “I have come a long way and struggled a lot and so signing for this great club is a big reward.”

Pepe is Arsenal’s fourth recruit of the close season after the club signed Brazilian winger Gabriel Martinelli, midfielder Dani Ceballos on loan from Real Madrid and centre back William Saliba, who has been loaned back to St Etienne for the season.

Arsenal, who finished fifth last season, play a friendly against Barcelona on Sunday before they begin the new league campaign with a trip to Newcastle United on Aug. 11.