Arsenal’s record signing who failed to live up to his potential. From the new season he will defend the colours of Villarreal

Nicolas Pépé arrived at the Emirates Stadium ahead of the 2019/2020 season for a then-record £72 million. However, he failed to fulfil his potential over three seasons and after his contract at Trabzonspor ended, the 29-year-old Ivory Coast international signed for Villarreal CF.

• Arsenal brought Pépé in for £72m in 2019
• Pépé has signed a two-year contract in Spain
• A chance to restart the player’s career

Unfulfilled expectations

The record amount sent by Arsenal officials to Lille in August 2019 can, with hindsight, be described as ‘money thrown away’. The highest amount the Gunners invested in the player’s arrival at the time was probably not matched by Pépé himself.

“When I arrived, the fans didn’t rate my performance but the transfer fee,” the right winger says of his beginnings in north London.

“If Arsenal had bought me for £20 million, maybe it would have been different, ” Pépé said of the reason for his failure at Arsenal. The Gunners paid a higher sum only for Declan Rice, who arrived from West Ham United for 105 million ahead of the 2023/2024 season.

But the Ivory Coast international has no regrets about his time at the Emirates Stadium. “ The transfer fee was the highest the club had paid up to that point, so they expected me to score in every game.”

But Pépé did not live up to those expectations. In 112 games, he scored 27 goals and added 21 assists. After three seasons, he went on loan to OGC Nice.

Before the 2023/2024 season, the English club agreed to terminate the player’s contract. The FA Cup and Community Shield winner subsequently joined Trabzonspor as a free agent, scoring six goals and assisting three more in 23 games.

Restarting his career in LaLiga

After his contract expires, Pépé’s new destination will be Villarreal CF. The Valencia club signed the left-footed winger on a two-year contract. Pépé will thus have the chance to restart his career under Marcelino.

Villarreal finished the 2023/2024 league season in 8th place, their first non-playing season. The confidants of the Spanish strategist certainly want to improve on last year’s placing.

However, Alexander Sorloth, the author of 26 goals, has left the team playing at Estadio de la Cerámica. Pépé will thus partly bear the heavy burden of replacing the departed Norwegian marksman. Will the former Arsenal player be able to build on the best moments of his career?

Source: BeInSports, Transfermarkt