This archive report was first published on 1 August 2019.
On August 1, 2019, Arsenal made history by signing Nicolas Pepe from Lille in a club-record £72m deal.
The 24-year-old Ivory Coast international has agreed a five-year contract at the Emirates, having undergone a medical on Tuesday, following the two clubs settling on the fee over the weekend.
Pepe will part with £20m now, with the remaining £52m being split over the next four years, with Lille receiving £13m per year, to avoid smashing Arsenal's budget.
Pepe had been on the radar of several top European clubs, including Manchester United, Liverpool, Everton, and Paris-Saint Germain, but was convinced by Arsenal's 'sporting project'.
Head coach Unai Emery said: "Nicolas is a highly-rated and talented winger who was wanted by many of the top teams in Europe."
Emery added: "Signing a top-class winger has been one of our key objectives in this transfer window and I'm delighted he's joining. He will add pace, power and creativity, with the aim of bringing more goals to our team."
Pepe is likely to form an intimidating front line alongside Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who netted 50 goals between themselves last season.
