Arsenal Sign Pepe For £72 Million With £20Million As First Installment

Arsenal have shattered their transfer record with the signing of Nicolas Pepe from Ligue 1 side with the Ivorian signing a five year contract at the Emirates Stadium.

Unai Emery has been desperate to add a winger to his squad this summer transfer window and after being rebuffed by Crystal Palace for the signing of Ivorian teammate, Wilfred Zaha stepped up their pursuit of Pepe.

Arsenal won the race for the 24 year old having agreed to paying an astonishing £72 million to beat off competition from Napoli and other quarters.

With this huge transfer fee paid, the Ivorian becomes the most expensive African footballer of all time.

The 24 year old jetted into London on Tuesday and passed his medicals before posing for pictures in the North London jersey and inking his contract in black and white.

The North London club are poised to pay only £20million this summer with the rest to be paid spread over the next five years. Pepe would earn in excess of £100000-a-week during his time at the Emirates stadium.

The winger enjoyed an impressive performance last term finding the net 22 times and laying on 11 assists in Ligue 1, a record only bettered by PSG’s Kylian Mbappe who scored 33 goals and provided 7 assists.

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Speaking about the move, Pepe had this to say to the North London website

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

“It was my family and my agents [who encouraged me to make the move].

“We talked and thought a lot about it. It was at the time of the CAN [Africa Cup of Nations] as well, we thought a lot during, before and after the CAN.

“It was important to make the right decision and I am convinced that Arsenal is the right choice.”

The African’s arrival continues a busy summer transfer window for North London club Arsenal who have already secured the signing of Gabriel Martinelli, William Saliba and Dani Ceballos who was secured on loan.

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