The return of Ivorian Nicolas Pépé to Ligue 1

Ivorian Nicolas Pépé, in the jersey of Arsenal, September 23, 2020. Tim Keeton / Pool via AP Photo

Text by: Farid Achache Follow

2 mins

Arsenal's Ivorian international striker Nicolas Pépé, 27, has been loaned to OGC Nice for one season without a purchase option, the Riviera club announced on Thursday (August 25th).

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Arrived Thursday August 25 in Nice,

passed the medical examination in the morning, before his representatives finalized the transaction with the French club.

It was officially presented to the Nice public a few minutes before the start of the Nice-Maccabi Tel Aviv meeting, counting for the return play-offs of the Europa League Conference.

Getting back on the Côte d'Azur

Under contract until June 2024 with the Arsenal Gunners, where coach

does not count on him for this season, the Ivorian international was however loaned without an option to buy.

If he disappointed on the other side of the Channel, the return to France of Nicolas Pépé is an event.

In Nice, he will try to revive himself, he who was considered one of the new nuggets of the Premier League. 

The striker began his professional career in Angers, before making an impression with Lille between 2017 and 2019. He notably received the Marc-Vivien Foé Prize by succeeding Cameroonian Karl Toko-Ekambi.

A logical reward for a player who came out of an exceptional season with 22 goals and 11 assists in 37 Ligue 1 matches. Pépé had been the great architect of Lille's course, which ended the season 2nd and qualified for the Champions League .

An insufficient record in England

After this remarkable exercise in Ligue 1, Pépé was transferred, in August 2019, to Arsenal for the sum of 80 million euros and had signed five seasons for the London club.

In three seasons with the Gunners, he played 79 Premier League games and scored 16 goals.

Corridor player with 13 selections with Côte d'Ivoire, he can also play as a centre-forward.

The most expensive rookie in Arsenal's history, Pépé ended his first season with a record of 8 goals and 10 assists, an insufficient record for his purchase price.

Last season, the Ivorian only played five matches as a starter in the Premier League.

According to the Nice club, Pépé will be qualified administratively for the reception of Marseille, from Sunday August 28, during the 4th day of Ligue 1. Pépé is the sixth recruit of OGC Nice.  

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