Villarreal have officially announced the signing of Arsenal’s reject Nicolas Pepe on a two-year contract, which will keep him at the club until June 30, 2026. The French-Ivorian winger is expected to enhance Villarreal’s attacking capabilities, particularly on the right flank.
According to Villarreal’s official statement on their website, Nicolas Pepe will join his new teammates for the first time at the José Manuel Llaneza Training Ground on Monday. This marks the beginning of his new chapter with the La Liga club.
Born on May 29, 1995, in France, Pepe began his professional career at Stade Poitevin before moving to Angers SCO in 2013. He later had a loan spell at US Orléans before returning to Angers and subsequently joining LOSC Lille. His exceptional performances at Lille led to a high-profile transfer to Arsenal.
During his three seasons with Arsenal, Pepe struggled to consistently match his Lille form and was subsequently loaned to OGC Nice for the 2022/23 season. Last season, he played for Trabzonspor in Turkey as a free agent after parting ways with Arsenal.
Throughout his career, Nicolas Pepe has made 323 appearances, scored 92 goals, and provided 47 assists. His new role at Villarreal aims to leverage his experience and skills to contribute to the team’s success in the upcoming seasons.