USMNT striker Ricardo Pepi is set to complete $11million transfer to PSV from Augsburg after impressing on loan in the Eredivisie last season
US striker Ricardo Pepi has agreed to complete a $11million (£8.5m) switch to PSV Eindhoven, after an impressive loan spell in the Netherlands with FC Groningen last season.
Pepi, 20, will move to the Netherlands from Germany, where he’s only managed to appear for FC Augsburg, of the Bundesliga, 15 times since his $20M transfer from FC Dallas, of the MLS, two years ago (in 2021), according to Fabrizio Romano.
During the 2022-23 season, Pepi scored 12 goals in 29 league game for Groningen, and also provided three assists.
What’s more is that the forward, who was born and raised in Texas, will potentially get a taste of playing in the Champions League with his new club next season, if PSV make it through the qualifiers, that is.
Eindhoven finished second in the Eredivisie last season, seven points off reigning champions Feyenoord.
USMNT’s Ricardo Pepi is will permanently move to the Netherlands to play for PSV Eindhoven
Groningen, on the other hand, suffered relegation after finishing last (18th) in league standings.
Pepi, who wasn’t included in the USMNT’s squad for the Gold Cup, is currently on holiday after his prolific season and will ‘soon’ link up with PSV to complete his move, according to Goal.com. He’ll sign a contract until June 2028.
Pepi’s an experienced US international with seven goals in 16 caps for his country.
Pepi scored 12 goals in 29 league games while playing on loan for FC Groningen last season
He was left out of Gregg Berhalter’s 2022 World Cup squad in Qatar, which he has now claimed is ‘in the past’ following the re-appointment of the American coach earlier this month.
Pepi’s last goal for the Star and Stripes came in a 3-0 win against Mexico in the 2023 CONCACAAF Nations League Finals on June 15. Pepi came on as a second-half substitute to put the Aztecs to the sword in the grueling Las Vegas heat.
Ironically, Pepi has Mexican ancestry and would regularly cross the border to Cuidad Juarez to visit family, having been raised in El Paso, Texas.
The player was even integrated in Mexico’s youth setup, playing for its U-17 side while growing up before switching allegiance to the US.
Pepi will now continue his development at Philips Stadion, where he’ll don one of the Netherlands’ most historic clubs, along with Ajax.
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