This archive report was first published on 3 August 2019.
On August 3, 2019, Arsenal made history by signing Nicolas Pepe, a 24-year-old Ivory Coast winger, from Lille for a club record fee of £72m.
The transfer deal, which was finalized after a medical on Tuesday, marks a significant milestone for the London club, making Pepe the fourth most expensive signing in Premier League history.
Pepe, who scored 35 goals in 74 Ligue 1 appearances for Lille after joining from Angers in 2017, has signed a five-year contract with the Gunners.
"Being at Arsenal is very emotional, and I have come a very long way to sign for such a big club like the Gunners," Pepe said in an interview.
He added that joining the London club was the right decision, as he had other options, including Liverpool and Napoli, who were interested in the volatile winger.
"It was important to make the right decision, and I am convinced that Arsenal is the right choice," Pepe said.
Pepe becomes the fourth most expensive signing in Premier League history, after Manchester United's Paul Pogba (£89m) and Romelu Lukaku (£75m), and Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk (£75m).
During the 2018-19 Ligue 1 season, only Paris St-Germain's Kylian Mbappe had more combined goals and assists than Pepe, who will wear the number 19 shirt for Arsenal.
