Arsenal have just terminated the contract of thier Star player this morning who could help them Win the Champions League
Nicolas Pepe, an Ivorian attacker, has had his contract with Arsenal terminated, according to Arsenal.
When he arrived from Lille in a £72 million transfer in 2019, the 28-year-old became the Gunners’ most expensive player, but he struggled to live up to expectations in North London.
Bukayo Saka’s rise to prominence rapidly caused Pepe to drop down the pecking order under Mikel Arteta, who recently preferred Reiss Nelson and Fabio Vieira on the right wing.
Pepe’s loan transfer to Nice for the 2022–23 season was approved by Arteta, where the Ivory Coast international hoped to regain the form that made him one of Europe’s most sought-after prospects when playing for Lille.
Pepe recorded 22 goals and 11 assists in Ligue 1 during the 2018–19 season, but he scored just eight goals in 28 games for Nice, and after his return to London, he was informed that his time at Arsenal was ended.
Pepe, who had just one year left on his contract, was no longer Arsenal’s highest signing—his record was beaten this year by £105 million midfielder Declan Rice—but the club has been unable to even collect a token sum.
The winger’s contract has already been amicably terminated, and the Gunners have confirmed that he is currently in route to Turkish club Trabzonspor.
“We are able to confirm Nicolas Pepe’s departure from the team. We and Nicolas have reached an agreement to end his employment immediately, the statement said. “Everyone at Arsenal thanks Nicolas for his contribution during his time with us and wishes him well for the future.”
Pepe was initially believed to have been in talks with Besiktas and even underwent a physical there, but the deal is said to have fallen through when Arsenal changed their criteria.
Trabzonspor announced the arrival of the winger earlier this week by releasing a photo of Pepe wearing the team jersey on a private jet. The former Lille player also turned down the riches of Saudi Arabia to stay in Europe.
The Ivorian is said to have signed a one-year deal with Trabzonspor, leaving it unknown what will happen to him after the summer of 2024. He departs Arsenal having scored 27 goals and assisted 21 more in 112 games.
In the 2020–21 season, Pepe scored 16 goals in all competitions, including 10 in the Premier League, and placed second in Arsenal’s Player of the Year voting.
The 28-year-old, however, only scored once in the 2021–22 top-flight campaign, tying the score against Wolverhampton Wanderers at home before setting up Alexandre Lacazette for a last-second Jose Sa own goal.
Pepe leaves the Emirates permanently this summer, joining Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Matt Turner, Granit Xhaka, Pablo Mari, Auston Trusty, Rob Holding, and Folarin Balogun.
