Arsenal outcast Nicolas Pepe completes loan move to Nice on as the club’s £72m record signing is unveiled during Conference League clash with Maccabi Tel-Aviv… but there’s NO option to make the move permanent
- Arsenal forward Nicolas Pepe has completed his season-long loan move to Nice
- Pepe has struggled to make an impact since his £72m move from Lille in 2019
- Nice said they do not have a purchase option to make the transfer permanent
Arsenal forward Nicolas Pepe has completed his loan move to Nice.
The winger has struggled to make an impact at the Emirates since his £72million move from Lille in the summer of 2019 and has now been sent out on loan for the rest of the season.
The 27-year-old was unveiled to his new fans before Nice’s Europa Conference League play-off second leg with Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC at the Allianz Riviera stadium on Thursday, which saw the Ligue 1 side triumph 2-1 on aggregate after extra-time.
Arsenal forward Nicolas Pepe has completed his season-long loan move to French side Nice
Pepe has often struggled to justify his price tag, scoring 27 goals in 112 matches for the north London club.
While he remains a regular at international level for Ivory Coast, the former Lille forward has failed to establish himself under Mikel Arteta, often coming on only as an impact substitute.
He has a contract with Arsenal until 2024 and Nice said they do not have a purchase option to make the transfer permanent.
Pepe had a good record in Ligue 1 with Lille, scoring 37 times in 79 appearances.
Pepe was unveiled to fans during Nice’s Conference League clash with Maccabi Tel-Aviv
The winger has struggled to make an impact at the Emirates since his £72m move from Lille
In his final season at Lille, he scored 22 goals and contributed 11 assists in the league.
He did not play in any of Arsenal’s three league matches this season, all of which Arteta’s side won to top the table.
Nice are 16th in Ligue 1 without a win in three games.
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