Nicolas Pepe’s Arsenal Transfer: The Real Cost Revealed
Arsenal’s former star Nicolas Pepe, who joined the club in 2019 for a record-breaking £72m deal, has been reported to have cost the Gunners ‘significantly more’ than £100m in transfer fees and wages before his contract was terminated. The Ivory Coast international, known for his versatility as a right winger or striker, failed to live up to expectations during his time at Arsenal and was part of a group that manager Mikel Arteta believed was holding the team back.
After making a total of 112 appearances for Arsenal and contributing 27 goals and 21 assists, Pepe’s value fell substantially, leading to around £18m in losses for the club. Arteta, when asked about Pepe’s departure earlier this season, mentioned that the decision was not made solely by him but involved multiple parties agreeing on the move.
Interestingly, it was revealed that former Arsenal head of football Raul Sanllehi spearheaded the move for Pepe before abruptly leaving the club in August 2020. It was also reported that ex-Arsenal head coach Unai Emery had initially wanted Arsenal to sign Wilfried Zaha from Crystal Palace instead of Pepe, but the move never materialized, with Zaha eventually joining Galatasaray in July 2023.
Pepe’s underwhelming performance at Arsenal and the subsequent financial implications serve as a cautionary tale for clubs looking to make big-money transfers. The real cost of Pepe’s transfer has shed light on the complexities involved in player acquisitions and the importance of making informed decisions to avoid significant financial losses in the long run.