Nicola Pepe Joins Arsenal In Club Record-Signing Of £72 Million For Five Years

Arsenal and Lille has completed a deal for Nicola Pepe and the winger has officially joined the English side in a club record-signing of £72 million believed to be for five years.

Napoli had first agreed to a deal for the player at Lille's asking price but he favoured a move to Arsenal which are offering an annual salary of £4.5 million compared to the Italian side's offer of £3.6 million. 

Speaking on the signing, Gunners manager Unai Emery described one "highly-rated and talented winger who was wanted by many of the top teams in Europe." 

That was well said of the Ivorian who was linked to top teams like Italian Serie A champions Juventus, Inter Milan and Manchester United. 

"Signing a top-class winger has been on of our key objectives in this transfer window," Emery said "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 can be said to be a good buy for Arsenal considering his contributions to his former club successful run in the 2018/19 season scoring 23 goal and completing 12 assists in 43 games for the team that finished the season as Ligue 1 runners-up. 

Delighted at the signing, the club's new in-take said his move to Arsenal is "emotional" and one that is a "big reward" considering how he has managed through his career.