Ex-Lille and Angers attacker Nicolas Pépé in recent hours concluded a transfer from Premier League side Arsenal to Süper Lig outfit Trabzonspor as the Turkish summer transfer window slammed shut.
Pépé, who joined Premier League side Arsenal from Ligue 1 outfit Lille OSC in 2019 for a then-club-record fee of £72m, struggled to impose himself in the English 1st division.
He leaves Arsenal having made 80 appearances, with 16 goals to show for his efforts. Although seen as an important piece for the future by Unai Emery and Raul Sanllehi when the Spanish duo were still at the club as Head Coach and Head of Football respectively, Pépé was identified by Mikel Arteta as being surplus to requirements when the young coach joined from Manchester City.
This was as a result of both his playing style and inconsistent performances.
Pépé spent last season on loan with French 1st division side OGC Nice, making 19 appearances for Les Aiglons and finding the net 6 times.
Sources contacted by Get French Football News understand that Arsenal will receive £3m as a transfer fee from Trabzonspor for a player whose contract was due to expire in June 2024.
GFFN
