“Arsenal Cancels Nicolas Pepe’s Contract, Incurring Significant Loss on £72 Million Winger, Who Moves to Trabzonspor”
Arsenal have announced the termination of Nicolas Pepe’s contract with the winger linking up with Trabzonspor on a free transfer.
The 28-year-old was signed for a then-club record £72million from Lille in 2019, but failed to perform on a consistent basis at the Emirates.
“Arsenal has officially announced the mutual termination of Nicolas Pepe’s contract, even though he had one year remaining on his deal.
During his time with the Gunners, Pepe, who spent the previous season on loan at Nice, made significant contributions, amassing 27 goals and 21 assists in 112 appearances across all competitions. Notably, he was a part of Arsenal’s victorious 2020 FA Cup-winning squad, starting in the memorable 2-1 final victory over Chelsea during his debut season.
However, he subsequently lost his place in the team under the management of Mikel Arteta, resulting in a substantial financial loss for the club.
The club’s official statement regarding the termination of his contract reads as follows: “We have reached an agreement with Nicolas to terminate his contract, effective immediately.
Nicolas, an Ivory Coast international, joined us from French club Lille in the summer of 2019 and played a pivotal role in our FA Cup triumph in 2020, including providing the decisive assist for the winning goal in the 2-1 victory over Chelsea.
At 28 years of age, with one year remaining on his contract, Nicolas spent the previous season on loan at Nice in Ligue 1, where he made 28 appearances and scored eight goals during the campaign.
Arsenal extends its gratitude to Nicolas for his contributions during his tenure with the club and wishes him success in his future endeavors.”
Arsenal had initially sought to secure a transfer fee for the player, but their attempts to sell the winger proved unsuccessful.
In light of this, both the Gunners and Pepe have chosen to part ways, allowing him to move on swiftly. Pepe wasted no time in finding a new club, signing a one-year deal with a Turkish team.
Prior to Arsenal’s official announcement, Pepe took to Instagram to share images of himself donning his new kit and expressing his enthusiasm for the new challenge ahead. He stated on social media, “I am very happy to arrive in this football-loving country. It’s a new challenge for me, and I’m eager to step back onto the pitch and work with the team to elevate Trabzonspor to the top of the league.”
Under the management of Mikel Arteta, Arsenal has not hesitated to terminate contracts when necessary, as several high-profile players have similarly exited the club. Since Arteta’s appointment in December 2019, notable departures include Mesut Ozil, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Sokratis, and Shkodran Mustafi.