Trabzonspor have completed the signing of Nicolas Pepe on a free transfer, after the Frenchman’s contract with Arsenal was mutually terminated on Thursday, September 7, 2023.
Pepe has signed a one-year deal with the Burgundy Blues, which is valid until June 30, 2024.
Confirming the arrival of Nicolas Pepe to the Papara Park, Trabzonspor released a catchy unveiling video across their social media accounts.
The 28-year-old made 28 appearances for OGC Nice last season, scoring 8 goals and providing 1 assist across all competitions.
The Ivorian attacker joined Arsenal from Lille on August 1, 2019, for a then club-record fee of €80 million.
However, Nicolas Pepe failed to deliver in North London, and he was left without a squad number for the 2023/24 season.
Pepe’s last contract with Arsenal was set to run until June 30, 2024, and he made 112 appearances for the club, scoring 27 goals and providing 21 assists.
Despite coming into the English club with huge expectations, having had an impressive 2018/19 season, the Frenchman couldn’t hit the heights expected of him.
In his final season with Lille, Nicolas Pepe scored 23 goals and provided 13 assists in 41 appearances.
However, he couldn’t replicate such an impressive showing in North London, throughout his 4-year spell at Arsenal.
Trabzonspor sign Nicolas Pepe
Pepe will be coming into Trabzonspor to offer the Turkish side enough bite and firepower in attack.
The Burgundy Blues currently sit 7th in the Turkish Süper Lig with 6 points from 4 matches; winning two games and losing two matches.
Nenad Bjelica’s side began the season with a 1-0 win over Antalyaspor, before losing to Galatasaray by 2-0.
Trabzonspor followed their defeat to Galatasaray, with a 2-3 loss to Rizespor, and they subsequently secured a 1-5 smashing victory over Kasimpasa on Matchday 4.
The Trabzon-based club finished 6th in the Turkish first division last season, with 57 points from 36 games.
Trabzonspor last won the Turkish Super Lig title in the 2021/22 season, and they have won 7 Super Cups in total.
Meanwhile, Nicolas Pepe started his career at Stade Poitevin, before joining Angers on July 1, 2013, and he made his debut for the club in a 2-1 home loss to Arles-Avignon on August 26, 2014, in the Coupe de la Ligue.
Pepe made 49 appearances for Angers, scoring 6 goals and providing 2 assists across all competitions, before leaving the French club on July 1, 2017, to join Lille for a fee of €18 million.
While with The Black and Whites, the 28-year-old went out on loan to US Orléans on July 2, 2015.
He made 32 appearances for The Wasps, scoring 8 goals and providing 2 assists across all competitions.
Nicolas Pepe represents Côte D’Ivoire internationally, and he has made 33 appearances for the African country, scoring 10 goals and providing 2 assists.
