This archive report was first published on 1 August 2019.
On Thursday, Arsenal announced the signing of Nicolas Pepe, a 24-year-old winger from French side Lille, for a club-record fee of 80 million euros (£72 million, Sh9 billion).
The deal eclipses the £56 million spent on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in January 2018, making Pepe the most expensive African player ever and the fourth most expensive signing in Premier League history.
Pepe, an Ivory Coast international, will wear the number 19 shirt and add firepower to an Arsenal attack that saw Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette score 50 goals between them in all competitions last season.
According to Arsenal manager Unai Emery, Pepe is a highly rated and talented winger who was wanted by many top teams in Europe.
"Signing a top-class winger has been one of our key objectives in this transfer window and I'm delighted he's joining," Emery said.
Pepe scored 22 Ligue 1 goals last season and was linked with several clubs over the summer, including Manchester United and Napoli.
He was behind only PSG's Kylian Mbappe in the Ligue 1 scoring charts as Lille finished second to qualify for the Champions League.
"Being here is very emotional because it has not been easy for me," Pepe said in an interview on Arsenal's website.
"I have come a long way and struggled a lot and so signing for this great club is a big reward," he added.
